India, Dec. 24 -- The alliance for upcoming Maharashtra civic polls by estranged brothers-turned-pally Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray was announced at a grand event on Wednesday, drawing mixed reactions from political parties and a dig by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who likened the "hype created" for the tie-up to Russia-Ukraine ceasefire.

Addressing a joint press conference at Worli in Mumbai on Wednesday, the cousins said their parties - Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) - will contest municipal elections in Mumbai, Nashik and other cities across the state.

Elections to 29 municipal corporations are scheduled to be held on January 15.

The formal announcement of the allia...