Kochi, 01 April (H.S):The Kerala High Court has strongly criticised the practice of fielding candidates with similar names in elections, observing that such tactics undermine the very essence of democracy. The court remarked that deliberately introducing candidates with identical or closely resembling names to mislead voters amounts to “killing democracy.”

The observation came while the court was considering a petition filed by an NDA candidate from Thrippunithura. The petitioner requested that her name be displayed as “Anjali Nair” on the voting machine instead of her official name, “Anjali P.V.” She argued that she is widely known among voters as Anjali Nair, and using her official name could lead to confusion.

During the hearing, the court pointed out that it has become a common practice for political parties to field candidates with identical or similar names to prominent contestants. For instance, if a candidate named Kunjikrishnan is contesting, other individuals with the same name are often fielded to create confusion among voters. This, the court noted, is a deliberate attempt to split votes and influence electoral outcomes unfairly.

The High Court emphasized that such practices distort the electoral process and prevent voters from making clear choices. It stated that no candidate should lose votes due to confusion caused by such tactics. The court also observed that almost all political parties have engaged in this practice at some point.

Calling for urgent corrective measures, the court stressed the need to curb the use of such candidates to protect the integrity of elections. It further directed the Election Commission to consider the petitioner’s request regarding the use of her commonly known name on the voting machine.

The case highlights growing concerns about electoral transparency and the need for reforms to ensure free and fair elections.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman