India, April 24 -- Intense brainstorming is underway ahead of the May 12 elections to 10 seats of the Maharashtra Legislative Council. The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi has sought to project unity, with the Congress urging Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray to contest the lone seat the opposition is likely to win. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, meanwhile, has begun shortlisting candidates for the nine seats it is expected to secure.

On Thursday, state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal met Thackeray at the latter's residence and requested him to throw his hat in the ring. However, the offer came with a caveat, revealed a party insider: Sapkal indicated that the Congress would step aside only if Thackeray agreed to contest, otherwise, ...