India, June 2 -- Soon after alliance partners of the ruling Mahayuti concluded a hard-bargained seat-sharing formula ahead of the legislative council elections on June 18, a fresh wave of rebellion has hit the ground. Local leaders from at least eight constituencies have openly challenged the choice of candidates, and now it is expected that leaders will spend the next few days dousing fires or putting pressure on each other to persuade rebel candidates to step down.

As observed during the Assembly and civic body elections, in most places the tussle is between BJP and Shiv Sena.

On Sunday, while BJP announced its candidates for the 11 legislative council seats, Shiv Sena fielded candidates from four and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ...