India, Oct. 10 -- Fresh tension has erupted within the Mahayuti alliance partners - the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - over the case involving gangster Nilesh Ghaywal, as leaders from both sides traded accusations ahead of the municipal elections.

The controversy deepened after minister of state (MoS) for tourism Yogesh Kadam admitted that he had given his approval to gangster Ghaywal's brother Sachin obtaining a weapon licence. "I approved the license since there was no case against Sachin Ghaywal since 2015 and court has acquitted him in previous cases in 2019," said Kadam on Thursday.

Reacting sharply, Ravindra Dhangekar, former MLA and Shiv Sena leader who recently joined the Eknath Shinde camp...