India, Dec. 17 -- As Maharashtra gears up for the January 15 civic body elections, political activity intensified on Tuesday with rival camps holding parallel meetings to firm up alliances and seat-sharing strategies, especially for the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.

The focus remained firmly on Mumbai, where Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray, signalling that a tie-up between the two parties is all but final. Raut later told reporters that Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS would contest the civic polls together not just in Mumbai but also in Mira-Bhayander, Kalyan-Dombivli, Thane, Pune and Nashik, with a formal announcement expected next week.

"There is no ...