Stage set for direct contest between cousins in two constituencies in north Maha

Nashik: North Maharashtra is set to witness a direct contest between two set of cousins this poll season.
While incumbent Shiv Sena MLA Kishor Patil will face cousin Vaishali Suryawanshi of Sena (UBT) in the Pachora constituency, BJP's Rahul Aher will compete with cousin Keda Aher, an independent, in Chandwad-Deola.
Suryawanshi, an entrepreneur, is contesting the assembly election for the first time. Her father, late Tatyasaheb RO Patil, served as a two-term Sena MLA from Pachora and maintained close ties with the Thackeray family over three decades. Kishor is Tatyasaheb's nephew.
"I separate politics from family. Though she (Suryawanshi) is my cousin, our political trajectories differ. I chose to adhere to Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology and supported chief minister Eknath Shinde. It benefited my constituency and the state," Kishor said, adding that Suryawanshi's electoral inexperience would facilitate his victory in the assembly poll.
Suryawanshi chose not to speak about family ties and said the election was her paramount concern. "People recognise who is carrying the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray. Kishor's departure from the Thackerays distressed me. I joined Shiv Sena (UBT) because the voters wanted someone to take on the present state of affairs in Maharashtra," Suryawanshi said.
About her maiden poll contest, she said, "The loyalty shift displeased people, and the anti-incumbency sentiment shall favour my campaign."
The cousins maintained that their preoccupation with campaigning during the Diwali period prevented them from exchanging greetings. They, however, said their familial bonds were not sour.
In Chandwad-Deola, the situation between Rahul and his cousin Keda is, however, not harmonious. Son of former MP and three-term MLA DS Aher, Rahul has been securing the seat since 2014. "Whatever transpired is in the past now. I had appealed to the party to replace me and allow Keda to contest the assembly election. In BJP, however, it is the party beyond self. I will adhere to BJP's decision and ensure victory for the party," Rahul said.
Keda, the nephew of DS Aher, said, "I earned my position in the political arena by working for the people of Deola. I also served the party all these years. As the party and Rahul are not heeding me now, I am left with no alternative. I will prove my mettle in the election as an independent."