India, Dec. 1 -- Shiv Sena MLA Nilesh Rane and his younger brother and BJP minister Nitesh Rane have begun trading barbs as their tussle intensifies to gain control of the Kankavali Municipal Council in Sindhudurg district in the upcoming local body polls.

On Sunday, Nitesh alleged that no one in the Shiv Sena was backing Nilesh even as Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, while campaigning for the latter in the coastal district, referred to him as an "ideal MLA". Nilesh shot back, alleging his brother's love for Hindutva was more political than ideological.

Sons of former union minister and BJP MP Narayan Rane, Nilesh is the Shiv Sena MLA from Kudal while Nitesh is the BJP MLA from the neighbouring Kankavli constituency as well as the state'...