Politics snaps family ties

The upcoming rural polls in West Bengal have taken a rather unusual toll with a couple snapping ties with their son and daughter-in-law because of opposing political allegiance.

Golam Kuddus, secretary of the CPI(M)’s zonal committee in Rampurhat I block in the State’s Birbhum district, and his wife have decided not to have any relationship with their son Sirajul Islam and daughter-in-law Sahina Yeasmin after she filed her nomination papers to contest a panchayat samiti seat as a Congress candidate.

“I am unable to reconcile myself to the fact that someone from my family will contest an election on the ticket of another party. I have been associated with CPI(M) since 1978 and have tried to ensure that members of my family share the same political line,” Mr. Kuddus told

The Hindu over phone on Friday.

“All the family members including my wife had urged them to withdraw from the elections but they refused. We have been left with no option but to disown them,” he said.

“I told my son that none in the family is going to vote for his wife,” Mr. Kuddus said.

“I respect my father’s belief in a party but it is no crime to contest elections on the ticket of another party,” said Mr. Islam. The rural polls in the district will be held on July 6.