Namesakes may spoil chance of candidates in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Namesakes may play spoilsport in Kerala where 30 Lok Sabha contestants have names similar to those of candidates belonging to mainstream parties.

The 'namesake phenomenon' is expected to create trouble for major candidates at least in 12 constituencies including Kasaragode, Kannur, Alathur, Ponnani, Vadakara, Mavelikkara, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, and Attingal.

Of the 269 candidates in the fray in the total 20 constituencies for the April 10 Lok Sabha polls, around 30 are candidates bearing names similar to those of major candidates.

Causing tension for LDF candidate Bennet Abraham in Thiruvananthapuram is the presence of one Bennet Babu Benjamin in the fray.

One Sambath Anil Kumar is there in the list in Attingal with CPI(M)'s A Sampath while in Palakkad constituency Veerendrakumar O P is there along with M P Veerendrakumar of SJ(D).

While two namesakes are there against RSP's N K Premachandran in Kollam, PK Biju of CPI(M) in Alathur faces threat from three candidates having names like R Biju, A Biju and K Biju.