India, June 8 -- Although the Mahayuti alliance succeeded in securing unopposed elections in six of the 17 legislative council seats that will go to polls on June 18, tensions between the BJP and Shiv Sena have surfaced in Nashik and Jalgaon, where rebel candidates have pitted themselves against each other's official nominees. Although the silent turf war between the parties' local leaders in these North Maharashtra districts is not new, it has surfaced anew, widening the rift within the alliance even further.

In Nashik, BJP rebels Prasad Hirey and Gopal Gite have entered the fray against official candidate Narendra Darade of the Shiv Sena, while in Jalgaon, Sena leaders Reshma Kale and Anil Chaudhari have challenged official BJP candida...