SURAT: The BJP candidate from ward 15 of Surat, Manisha Aahir (28) is faced with an unusual situation where in her own husband of eight years will be campaigning against her. Manisha’s husband, Mahesh Aahir (32), joined the Congress party at a function held on Punagam Road on Sunday and will be campaigning for the party in ward 15.
Mahesh a former teacher turned businessman has been an apolitical person to date. For last few months, he and Manisha have been living separately after they developed some disputes. The couple has a five-year-old son. They had got married as per their family’s wish in an arranged marriage.
When contacted Manisha said, “I don't know why my husband joined the Congress. I am not living with him and he might have done this to create problems for me.” Manisha has been an active journalist for a local news channel till recently. She is contesting for the first time in the civic body polls.
Meanwhile, Mahesh who is into marketing survey business, told TOI, “I will campaign for those Congress candidates who are loyal towards people and my community. They are opponents of my wife, but I will support them for the betterment of people.”
Mahesh who was a school teacher who had lost his job during lockdown. So, he started his own business of doing marketing surveys.
Though Mahesh was not offered any post in the Congress he said that he will take part in campaigning for good candidates.
He further said that he had also offered to campaign for his wife. “After Manisha got the BJP ticket, I went to congratulate her and offered my support to her in campaigning. But she and her family members turned down my offer. I have been trying to strike a compromise with my wife for past many weeks but she is not interested,” Mahesh claimed.