Pune Civic Polls: Voters Confused by Identical Surnames on Ballots
This year's civic elections in Pune are creating an unusual kind of confusion at the ballot box. The problem does not stem from party symbols or political alliances. Instead, voters are struggling with a clash of identical surnames among rival candidates.
Widespread Surname Overlap in Key Wards
In several electoral wards, voters find themselves staring at panels where opposing candidates share the same family names. This makes it difficult to distinguish one candidate from another.
The confusion is most visible in PCMC's Ward No. 28, covering Rahatni and Pimple Saudagar. Here, the Nationalist Congress Party has fielded a full panel of four candidates, all carrying the surname "Kate." The candidates are Umesh Kate, Sheetal Kate, Vitthal Kate, and Meenakshi Kate.
Challenging them, the Bharatiya Janata Party has also fielded three candidates with the same surname. These are Shatrughna Kate, Anita Kate, and Sandesh Kate.
A similar scenario unfolds in PMC's Ward No. 9, which includes Baner, Sus, and Pashan. In this ward, Amol Balwadkar from the NCP is pitted against Lahu Balwadkar from the BJP and Sandeep Balwadkar from the Congress.
Across the city, other common surnames like Pathare, Tingre, Satav, and Khandve appear across multiple wards and opposing parties. This further blurs the lines for the electorate.
Voters Express Frustration and Confusion
"For those of us who vote based on local work, it has become incredibly confusing," said Meera Thombre, a resident of Rahatni. "You hear people say 'vote for Kate,' but which one? We have to double-check the first names and symbols every single time."
In areas where joint families have deep roots in local politics, a single surname traditionally represented decades of political legacy. However, with family members now split across rival parties, that legacy cuts both ways. It offers familiarity while also sowing doubt.
"Earlier, one family name represented one leader. Now, the same surname appears under two or three different party flags," said Shashank Deshpande, a senior citizen from Baner. "On polling day, this can easily mislead voters who aren't extremely alert."
Even tech-savvy younger voters feel the pinch. "I had to search through WhatsApp groups just to confirm which Tingre belonged to which party," admitted Aditi Satav, a college student. "It shouldn't be this complicated to identify a candidate."
Candidates Acknowledge the Overlap
Candidates acknowledge the surname overlap but argue it is an unavoidable byproduct of family-run politics. "We cannot stop someone with the same surname from contesting. People know our individual work; once we are on the ground, the confusion disappears," said one candidate from eastern Pune.
A Khandve candidate echoed this sentiment. "Voters are smart. They know who attends society meetings and who helps during floods or infrastructure crises. The surname alone doesn't decide the vote."
Election Workers Report Increased Queries
Despite these assurances, election workers report a surge in queries at polling booths. Voters frequently ask, "Which one is our candidate?" The problem is particularly acute in the four-candidate panel system, where multiple candidates with the same name appear on a single ballot.
For first-time voters like Arshin Sheikh from NIBM, the issue is straightforward but frustrating. "We just want to vote for the right person. But when everyone has the same surname, it feels like a puzzle," she said.
As the city heads to the polls, the real test for many voters will not just be party loyalty. It will also be the ability to pick the right Kate, Pathare, or Balwadkar from a crowded list.
