BMC polls: Man, sister face-off in Bhandup ward

The BMC election is turning out to be a war not only of political parties but families as well.

Two siblings are contesting each other in ward number 105 in Bhandup.

Shailendra Suvarna, a BJP candidate, is contesting against his sister Harinakshi Chirath, a MNS contestant from the ward.

There are five other candidates contesting from the same ward.
"It is all right that she is contesting against me. I consider her another political opponent and only our ideologies matter," said Suvarna, 40.

But to his supporters, the contest is unique. Sloganeering becomes louder when Harinakshi and her supporters pass by their camp.

"I am going to win so what if I am contesting against my sister. I have support of my voters and more importantly, my father," he said pointing towards his father who responded with a nod.
"Any father would like his daughter to win but I want my son to win," said Vijay, Suvarna's father.

It has been three years since Harinakshi, 34, has severed all ties with her family.

"She is a resident of Thane. Her husband runs his business somewhere in the ward. Since the MNS did not find a candidate, it outsourced her 15 days before the polls. She has nothing to do with ideologies," said Suvarna.

Harinakshi said contesting poll was about grabbing an opportunity to do developmental work. "It doesn't matter who you are contesting against," she said.

Suvarna claims to have been engaged in social activities for nearly two decades in the area. But this does not deter Harinakshi's in any way.

"I am receiving a positive response from the people," she said.