India, May 11 -- The hobnobbing of MPs from opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), especially from the Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), with leaders of ruling parties is common knowledge in state's political circles. There are at least a dozen opposition MPs who seem to be friendly with the ruling parties' top leaders. While leaders from the BJP and Sena claim that the MPs are being nurtured for a possible defection, those on the other side say they are just being friendly with the leaders so that they can get work done in their constituencies.

The issue cropped up after two instances-last week deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde and Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Patil travelled together in the former's car after he visited Patil's wife in hospi...