The Kerala Assembly Election 2026 is starting to get very busy and a little confusing for some voters. In the Kozhikode district, several famous political leaders are finding out that they are not the only ones with their names on the ballot. This week, officials finished checking all the papers, and it turns out that many candidates have namesakes who are also running for the same seats. This is a common situation in local politics, but it always makes the race more exciting and difficult for the main parties involved.

What Happened?

On Tuesday, election officials in the Kozhikode district completed the scrutiny of nomination papers. This is the process where they check if all the candidates have filled out their forms correctly. After the checking was done, they found something very interesting in a few specific areas. In the Beypore area, a candidate named P.V. Anvar, who has the support of the UDF group, is facing four other men with names very similar to his. One of them is named Anwar Ali Hassan, and there are three others named Anver. Even though the spelling is slightly different, the names sound almost exactly the same when spoken aloud.

This is not just happening in Beypore. In the Koduvally area, another candidate named P.K. Firos is in a similar situation. He also has four other people running against him who have names like Firoz or Firos. Koduvally is actually the busiest area in the whole district right now because it has 17 candidates in total. Even the Minister for Public Works, P.A. Mohamed Riyas, has to deal with this problem. There is another man named Mohammed Riyas P.C. running in the same race. However, not every area is this crowded. In Kozhikode South, there are only four candidates, and none of them have the same name. This makes the race there much simpler for the voters to understand.

In total, 141 people filed 223 sets of papers to run for office across the district. While many names were checked on Tuesday, some might still decide to leave the race. The candidates have until Thursday to change their minds and withdraw their names. After Thursday, the final list of who is actually running will be ready. This will give the main candidates a better idea of who they are really fighting against. For now, the focus is on these namesake candidates who could potentially change the final results by taking away a few important votes from the main leaders.

Key Highlights

P.V. Anvar in Beypore is running against four other people with almost the same name.
P.K. Firos in Koduvally also faces four namesake candidates in a very crowded race.
Koduvally has the highest number of people running for a seat with 17 total candidates.
Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas has one namesake candidate running against him this year.
Kozhikode South is the simplest race with only four candidates and no name confusion.
The final list of candidates will be confirmed after the withdrawal deadline on Thursday.
A total of 141 candidates originally filed their papers to participate in the district election.

Why Does This Matter?

This news is very important for common people because it can make voting very confusing. When you go to vote, you look for the name of the person you like. If you see five names that look and sound the same, you might get worried about picking the wrong one. This is a very old trick used in politics to try and split the votes. If a few hundred people accidentally vote for a namesake instead of the main leader, that leader could lose the whole election. In a close race, every single vote counts, and namesakes can really change who wins or loses.

For the average voter, it means they have to be extra careful. They cannot just look at the name; they must also look at the symbol next to the name. Every candidate has a unique picture, like a hand, a flower, or an umbrella, to help people identify them. The main candidates will now have to spend more money and time telling everyone their specific number on the list and their specific symbol. It adds a lot of extra work to the campaign. It also shows why it is so important for every citizen to study the candidate list carefully before they go to the polling booth on election day.

What Are People Saying?

Many local people are talking about how funny or frustrating it is to see so many same names. Some voters think it is a waste of time and only meant to trick them. They feel that the rules should be stricter so that voters do not get confused. On the other side, experts say that this is part of a free democracy. Anyone has the right to run for office if they meet the requirements, even if they have the same name as a famous politician. It is a challenge that happens in many parts of India during every big election season.

Political parties are already preparing their supporters. They are telling their workers to go door-to-door and show the voters exactly where their candidate's name is located on the voting machine. They want to make sure there is no room for mistakes. Some officials have noted that while there are many namesakes now, some might withdraw their names by Thursday. If they do not withdraw, the main candidates will have to work twice as hard to ensure their supporters do not get confused by the similar-sounding names on the ballot paper.

Conclusion

The Kerala Assembly Election 2026 is shaping up to be a test of how well voters know their candidates. With many namesakes in places like Beypore and Koduvally, the race is about more than just policies; it is about making sure people know exactly who they are voting for. As we wait for the final list of candidates on Thursday, the main leaders are already busy teaching their supporters how to find the right name and the right symbol. This election shows that even something as simple as a name can become a big part of the political game in a busy democracy.