Resembling names may hit many candidates in State polls

Pune: ‘What is in a name?’ is the famous soliloquy in William Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’. However, a name may decide a candidate’s future in the State Assembly elections. In many constituencies, name resemblance may prove a deciding factor.

In Dindori Lok Sabha constituency poll 2024, NCP (SP) fielded Bhaskar Bhagare. Another candidate with the same name was also contesting, who polled over one lakh votes. This became a talking point across the State. This phenomenon is also evident in the State Assembly elections, which may cause headache to some candidates.

Similarly, Shiv Sena (BT) candidate in the Nandgaon (Nashik), is Suhas Kande. Another candidate with the same name has also filed his nomination from the segment. NCP (AP) rebel Sameer Bhujbal is contesting as an independent here. This is likely to be a tough battle. Therefore, the namesake may have been fielded to wean away some votes of Suhas Kande.

There are two candidates bearing the name Ganesh Gite in Nashik (East) constituency. One of them is an NCP (SP) candidate. In Nashik Central, Shiv Sena’s (UBT) Vasant Gite has another namesake among his opposing candidates.

In Koregaon Assembly segment in Satara, NCP (SP) candidate Shashikant Shinde is contesting. An independent having the same name is contesting. Shiv Sena (BT) candidate Mahesh Shinde has also been fielded from the seat.

Then there are two Yogesh Kadam in the Dapoli Assembly constituency. One of them is a candidate of Shiv Sena (BT). On the other hand, two independent candidates resembling the name with Shiv Sena’s (UBT) Sanjay Kadam are also in the fray. It remains to be seen how much it would impact the official candidates.

NCP (SP) candidate Ashwini Kadam is contesting from the Parvati segment in Pune. She has two namesakes as her opponents while there is also Ashwini Anil Kadam in the fray.

The NCP (SP) has objected to a candidate named Bapu Baban Pathare from the Vadgaon Sheri segment because their official candidate is Bapusaheb Pathare.