India, Aug. 17 -- Blazing a new campaign trail ahead of local body elections in the state, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is tapping into festivals deeply cherished by Maharashtrians, starting with Janmashtami on Saturday, to win hearts - and votes.

With nine municipal corporations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) up for elections, where the contest is expected to be fierce, the alliance cashed in on the Dahi Handi festival in a big way on Saturday. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attended as many as 14 Dahi Handi celebrations in Mumbai, Thane and Bhiwandi, while his deputy and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde attended nine, most of them in Thane.

Sounding the bugle for the polls, Fadnavis was blatant about the Mahayuti's new and ad...