Hitler, Mafia, Bomber seeking votes in Meghalaya

Hitler, Mafia, Bomber, Kennedy and Alexander are among 346 candidates seeking votes in Meghalaya. Not to be left behind, some voters in the state also have peculiar names like Thailand, New York and Submarine.

Among the other contestants for the February 23 polls who have equally colourful names are Hilarius, Predecessor, Boldness, Hamlet and Nesting.

Historians in the state say the different names are a result of a colonial hangover Dr Amanda Passah, a historian at the North Eastern Hills University, said, "It is unfair to laugh at them (names) since they are not to be blamed for having such names." "It is the result of fascination of anything western or European of their parents," he said.