Ahead of Kerala polls, NDA’s Anjali Nair moves HC to change name in ballot paper, EVM

Kochi, Kerala: Actress Anjali Nair, NDA candidate contesting the assembly elections from the Tripunithura seat, has approached the Kerala High Court seeking a change in how her name appears on the ballot.

In her petition, she has requested that instead of her official name “Anjali P.V.”, the name “Anjali Nair”, by which she is widely known among voters, be displayed on the ballot paper and electronic voting machines (EVMs). At present, her name is listed as Anjali P.V. in the candidate list and on the EVM.

The petitioner argued that her official name is not familiar to voters and could potentially affect her vote share. She pointed out that all her campaign materials and publicity have been carried out under the name “Anjali Nair”, and a discrepancy in the ballot could lead to confusion among voters.

Hearing the plea, the Kerala High Court has sought a response from the Election Commission on the matter. However, it remains uncertain how feasible such a change would be at this stage of the election process.

While election rules do not bar a name change, the name mentioned in the nomination papers is typically reflected on the ballot. With voting already underway in some segments, including house-to-house voting, and service voting set to begin soon, making changes at this stage could pose practical challenges.