Actress Anjali Nair moves High Court: Tripunithura’s star candidate battles name confusion

KOCHI: Actress Anjali Nair, the Twenty20 (T20) candidate for the Tripunithura constituency, has moved the High Court seeking to change her name on the ballot papers and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). In her petition, the actress stated that she is currently listed as Anjali P.V., and requested that it be changed to Anjali Nair, the name by which she is widely recognised by the public.

Anjali Nair argued in her petition that her legal name, Anjali P.V., is unfamiliar to voters, which could lead to a significant loss of votes. She clarified that her election campaign, including all posters and promotional materials, uses the name Anjali Nair; therefore, keeping a different name on the ballot would cause unnecessary confusion on polling day.

Upon considering the petition, the High Court has sought an explanation from the Election Commission. However, legal experts doubt whether the court's intervention will be practical at this stage of the election process. The name currently on the ballot matches the one provided in her official nomination papers. Furthermore, the voting process for elderly citizens via home visits commenced yesterday, complicating the feasibility of making changes mid-election.