India teaches USA

In almost every election in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, opposition parties have been accused of fielding dummy candidates or candidates with similar-sounding names to confuse voters. This practice has been going on for a long time. 

The idea is that a rival candidate, or someone allegedly backed by a rival political party, contests as an Independent candidate using a name very similar to that of a prominent candidate. The intention is supposedly to confuse voters and split the votes. 

There were several reported examples during the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, held on April 23, 2026. Here are a few: 

Perambur – Joseph Vijay (TVK): Two candidates with similar names, K. Vijay and Vijay G., were also in the fray. 

Royapuram – D. Jayakumar (AIADMK): Three other candidates reportedly had the same name, D. Jayakumar. 

Coimbatore South – V. Senthil Balaji (DMK): Five other candidates reportedly had the name Senthil. 

This kind of political tactic was never something we commonly associated with elections in the United States. But apparently, they have learned a few tricks from India! 

Now, we have an interesting situation in Alaska involving the U.S. Senate election. 

The candidates are: 

Democratic candidate Mary Peltola 

Republican candidate: Dan Sullivan 

Another candidate: Daniel J. Sullivan 

The Democratic Party has denied anything to do this third candidate, whose name is remarkably similar to that of the Republican incumbent. 

The controversy has escalated to the point where the Trump administration's Justice Department has sued, potentially seeking to block certification of Alaska's Senate election results if Republican Dan Sullivan narrowly loses. Alaska officials, however, argue that the federal lawsuit has no legal basis and threatens the state's authority to administer its own elections. 

As Tamil comedy actor Kavundamani would say: "Arasiyal-la ithellam saadhaaranam appa!" (In politics, all these things are normal, son!) 

Apparently, what we have been witnessing in Indian elections is no longer exclusive to India! 

Let's wait and see what happens when the results come out next Tuesday.