<p>The Chanok family of a non-descript village near Aarambagh in West Bengal is witnessing a 'war' of sorts with three of its members up against each other as TMC, BJP and Left candidates in the panchayat elections.</p>.<p>Sufal Chanok, 78, is the TMC candidate from the Salehpur village, his brother 67-year-old Sukumar Chanak is the CPI candidate while his son Prafulla is the BJP nominee from the seat.</p>.<p>"We are fiercely combative on the field as we are miles apart ideologically. But, I have told 'dada' (elder brother) that he has to treat us to mutton curry if he wins, and if I win I will buy a drum of rasogolla and distribute it among our family members, including my 'dada' and 'bhaipo' (nephew)," Sukumar told <em>PTI</em>.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a data-ved="2ahUKEwjizeSil_r_AhUcUGwGHWBpAxAQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/opposition-leaders-find-fault-with-west-bengal-police-1234331.html">Opposition leaders find fault with West Bengal police</a></strong></p>.<p>A visit to their thatched-roof house, less than a kilometre from the nearest highway, revealed the family's struggle to make ends meet. They do not share a kitchen, but take care of each other, notwithstanding the animosity in the electoral arena.</p>.<p>"During my campaign, I am telling people how my 'dada' failed to develop this road," Sukumar said, pointing to the murram road that has turned muddy due to continuous rains.</p>.<p>"If I win, I will improve this road. If 'dada' wins I will not allow him to have peace till he develops this road, which is the main thoroughfare of this village," he added.</p>.<p>Sufal, the patriarch of the household, said the political differences with his son and his brother will not come in the way of his affection for them.</p>.<p>He has worked as a rural medic for decades, and joined the TMC in 1998, following in the footsteps of Mamata Banerjee, from the Congress.</p>.<p>"People will vote for me seeing the development works done by the Mamata Banerjee government. I am working for the area all my life. However, whatever may be the result of the election, my relationship with my family members would not change," he said.</p>.<p>Prafulla, 56, said the electoral battle has not affected his respect for his father and uncle.</p>.<p>"It is impossible to explain the TMC government's misrule and the CPI's irrelevance. My uncle and father do not have a chance to win against me," he said.</p>.<p>Prafulla said he was worried about his father's health as he was campaigning amid the sweltering heat at such an age.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a data-ved="2ahUKEwjizeSil_r_AhUcUGwGHWBpAxAQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE" href="https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/comment/west-bengal-panchayat-polls-anarchy-in-local-governance-1233324.html">West Bengal panchayat polls: Anarchy in local governance</a></strong></p>.<p>"My request to him is don't strain yourself during the campaign, and make promises that you could not fulfil earlier also," he said.</p>.<p>Exuding confidence, Prafulla said he will win the election because people of the area know him since he was a child. His father, however, said that no one would vote for the BJP in the area.</p>.<p>About 5.67 crore people living in the state's rural areas are eligible to vote in the July 8 elections for the three-tier panchayat system, comprising zilla parishad, panchayat samiti and gram panchayat.</p>
<p>The Chanok family of a non-descript village near Aarambagh in West Bengal is witnessing a 'war' of sorts with three of its members up against each other as TMC, BJP and Left candidates in the panchayat elections.</p>.<p>Sufal Chanok, 78, is the TMC candidate from the Salehpur village, his brother 67-year-old Sukumar Chanak is the CPI candidate while his son Prafulla is the BJP nominee from the seat.</p>.<p>"We are fiercely combative on the field as we are miles apart ideologically. But, I have told 'dada' (elder brother) that he has to treat us to mutton curry if he wins, and if I win I will buy a drum of rasogolla and distribute it among our family members, including my 'dada' and 'bhaipo' (nephew)," Sukumar told <em>PTI</em>.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a data-ved="2ahUKEwjizeSil_r_AhUcUGwGHWBpAxAQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/opposition-leaders-find-fault-with-west-bengal-police-1234331.html">Opposition leaders find fault with West Bengal police</a></strong></p>.<p>A visit to their thatched-roof house, less than a kilometre from the nearest highway, revealed the family's struggle to make ends meet. They do not share a kitchen, but take care of each other, notwithstanding the animosity in the electoral arena.</p>.<p>"During my campaign, I am telling people how my 'dada' failed to develop this road," Sukumar said, pointing to the murram road that has turned muddy due to continuous rains.</p>.<p>"If I win, I will improve this road. If 'dada' wins I will not allow him to have peace till he develops this road, which is the main thoroughfare of this village," he added.</p>.<p>Sufal, the patriarch of the household, said the political differences with his son and his brother will not come in the way of his affection for them.</p>.<p>He has worked as a rural medic for decades, and joined the TMC in 1998, following in the footsteps of Mamata Banerjee, from the Congress.</p>.<p>"People will vote for me seeing the development works done by the Mamata Banerjee government. I am working for the area all my life. However, whatever may be the result of the election, my relationship with my family members would not change," he said.</p>.<p>Prafulla, 56, said the electoral battle has not affected his respect for his father and uncle.</p>.<p>"It is impossible to explain the TMC government's misrule and the CPI's irrelevance. My uncle and father do not have a chance to win against me," he said.</p>.<p>Prafulla said he was worried about his father's health as he was campaigning amid the sweltering heat at such an age.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a data-ved="2ahUKEwjizeSil_r_AhUcUGwGHWBpAxAQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE" href="https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/comment/west-bengal-panchayat-polls-anarchy-in-local-governance-1233324.html">West Bengal panchayat polls: Anarchy in local governance</a></strong></p>.<p>"My request to him is don't strain yourself during the campaign, and make promises that you could not fulfil earlier also," he said.</p>.<p>Exuding confidence, Prafulla said he will win the election because people of the area know him since he was a child. His father, however, said that no one would vote for the BJP in the area.</p>.<p>About 5.67 crore people living in the state's rural areas are eligible to vote in the July 8 elections for the three-tier panchayat system, comprising zilla parishad, panchayat samiti and gram panchayat.</p>