MUMBAI, June 5 -- The run-up to the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections hit a dramatic climax on Thursday, as several opposition candidates pulled out of the fray, amid allegations of exchange of cash and promise of future political gains. This resulted in six Mahayuti candidates being elected unopposed. The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which had struggled to field candidates for all 17 council seats, suffered a major setback on the last day of withdrawal of nominations for the June 18 elections. Candidates of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) withdrew from at least eight constituencies, effectively handing out easy victories to the Mahayuti nominees. In two constituencies, opposition parties were compelled to extend support to independents or rebels as a face-saving measure. P4...