The upcoming civic body election has reportedly driven a wedge between the purported first family of Behrampore — descendants of the erstwhile Nawab of Murshidabad, Wasif Ali Mirza.

Cousins Syed Mohammed Fahim Mirza and Syed Waqar Abbas Mirza are rival contestants for Trinamul and Congress, respectively, in ward 10 of the town in the upcoming civic election.

What reportedly caused a fallout between the cousins, who occupy separate floors of the same residence near the Hazarduari compound, is Fahim’s decision to make a late entry into politics and that too at Trinamul’s behest.

Old timers in the area say that the nawabs had always been known as a “Congress family”.

In the run-up to the polls, both cousins have reportedly kept a distance, notwithstanding the proximity of their families and their living quarters in the same home.

“If you ask me, Fahim had no business making a late entry into politics when I have always been known as a Congress old hand, as have several others from this family in the past,” Waqar, a businessman by profession, said Fahim had “never shown much interest” in politics on account of being a schoolteacher by profession, and that his decision to contest on a Trinamul ticket had taken Waqar “aback”.

Fahim, the new entrant in politics, ,said the Congress had become a “lost cause” in the Murshidabad civic body, despite the district's history as a Congress bastion.

“Everyone knows Trinamul is the party of the future,” he added, brushing aside queries about ward 10's historical allegiance to nawabi traditions and by extension the Congress.

The cousins’ fathers, fondly known as Chhota Nawab (Syed Mohammed Reza Ali Mirza) and Bade Nawab (Syed Mohammed Abbas Ali Mirza) by local residents, have been campaigning alongside their sons.

Syed Waqar Abbas Mirza. Telegraph photo

Neither has a background or history in politics, and both have claimed that rival tickets had “not caused bad blood” within the home.

“Yes, we will naturally campaign for our respective sons. But politics stays outside the threshold of our home, which we all share,” said Abbas Ali, with Reza Ali echoing the sentiment when asked later.

Abbas Ali is known in the area as an old guard for erstwhile nobility, a perception that was strengthened when he petitioned the Supreme Court in 2014 for the restoration of the royal titles.

The latter was granted, but the family's former property is reportedly still tied up in government litigation.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had won the Murshidabad seat.