Kiev (Alliance News) - Trailing just behind former boxer Vitali Klitschko in the Kiev mayoral race is Galactic Empire commander Darth Vader, the villainous fictional character from the Hollywood film series Star Wars.

The problem for Klitschko: "the Force" seems to be with "Vader," who even though just a pretend candidate for the mayor's office is only a few percentage points behind the former heavy weight champion in opinion polls.

Analysts predict that the Star Wars figure could even win the Sunday election - which runs parallel to the country's presidential race.

Posters for candidate "Vader" - also known as "the candidate with the human visage" - are plastered across Kiev showing him promising "bacon for all Kievites."

Underneath the black helmet is a member of the IPU internet party of entrepreneur Dmitri Golubov from the Black Sea city of Odessa.

While obviously intended as a joke, the local election commission has confirmed his candidacy, stating that "Darth Vader" handed in all the required documents in a timely fashion.

He apparently applied after being rejected for the presidential poll.

In commercials, "Vader" appears with Star Fleet stormtroopers as a local patriot, cleaning monuments and sidewalks.

Ironically, he has announced plans to expand already rampant corruption.

Naming other Star Wars characters, "Vader" says: "Chewbacca will take over housing administration and the environment, Master Yoda will oversee finances and I will name my son as deputy."

Klitschko for his part is standing in "Vader's" shadow. After withdrawing his candidacy for Ukrainian president for the benefit of wealthy businessman Pyotr Poroschenko, Klitschko is running for mayor for the third time, having failed by a clear margin in 2006 and 2008.

But "Darth Vader" may not be the only one to have gone over to the dark side in the contest.

Klitschko is dogged by rumours of vote buying and employing shady characters on his political team.

Klitschko, head of the parliamentary party Udar (Punch), rejects all these accusations as part of a "smear campaign." In his campaign spots, he promises to create jobs and to fight corruption.

The mayor of Kiev functions mainly as a figurehead since a change in legislation in 2010. The most important decisions fall to the city superintendent - and this position is filled by a nominee by the president.

Klitschko's success in the next year-and-a-half until the next regular election in Kiev is dependent above all on the performance of his ally Poroschenko in the presidential election.

"Darth Vader", meanwhile, has another iron in the fire: He is also running in Odessa.

Copyright dpa