<i>Hitler, Frankenstein fight it out in Indian state polls</i>
When politician Adolf Lu Hitler-Marak stands for election in an Indian hill state next month, even he may have a tough time standing out in a field of the most unusually named candidates.
Politician and school teacher Frankenstein Momin is also hoping not to scare away the voters in Meghalaya, especially when faced with competition from more benign-sounding candidates such as Hilarious Pochen and Billykid Sangma.
The state in India's remote northeast goes to the polls on March 3, with more than 331 candidates jostling for around 60 seats in the assembly in the state capital Shillong.
Looking for re-election in his seat is Zenith Sangma, and also trying to outshine their rivals are Celestine Lyngdoh, Starfing Jove Langpen Pdahkasiej, Edstar Lyngdoh Nongbri and Moonlight Pariat.
Romeo Phira Rani and Darling Wavel Lamare are also busy trying to seduce the electorate, while Bison Paslen is locking horns with his rivals in Sutgna Shangpung constituency.
Forward Lyngdoh Mawlong is leading the charge in his constituency, while Admiral K Sangma is also setting sail for battle -- as are H Britainwar Dan and Bombersingh.
Meghalaya is one of three northeastern Indian states voting over the next fortnight.
With a population of 2.3 million, the state is a predominantly Christian area with Khasi as the main language.
English is spoken, but not very fluently -- so people often name their children after words and famous people they have little familiarity with or understanding about.
"Often they don't know the background of the names. They get attracted to exquisite names," said the conservatively named David Reid Syiemlieh, a professor of history at the North Eastern Hill University in Shillong.
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