KOCHI: BJP has nominated a woman named Sonia Gandhi as its candidate in Kerala’s Munnar local body polls, leaving the UDF in a uniquely awkward position. The candidate, Sonia Gandhi from ward 16 of Munnar gram panchayat, was named after the Congress leader by her father, late Durai Raj — a plantation worker, devoted Congressman and local office-bearer from Kallar. Ironically, decades later, the namesake of the Congress matriarch is contesting on a BJP ticket. Sonia, who married Subhash — the BJP panchayat general secretary — has long been known locally as “Durai Raj’s daughter,” a factor now causing ripples among Congress campaigners. The official Congress nominee, Manjula Ramesh, is contesting against her, sparking animated discussions both offline and online. For Congress workers, the similarity in name poses a psychological campaign challenge. While Sonia Gandhi, the BJP candidate, could potentially draw sympathy votes from traditional Congress supporters familiar with her family legacy, Congress workers must tread carefully — criticising her too strongly risks the perception of attacking a name deeply associated with their own top leadership. Whether the shared name will translate into votes or confusion will only be known after counting day, but the contest has already achieved what dummy candidates typically aim for: grab attention, unsettle opponents, and rewrite the local political narrative — this time with a twist of irony.
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