India, Jan. 30 -- The political landscape in Panvel's rural hinterland has intensified ahead of the zilla parishad and panchayat samiti elections scheduled for February 7, with the contest devolving into a fierce, direct battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) for control of the district's agrarian administration.

The election, which will end the prolonged rule of state-appointed administrators, has seen a record surge in nominations and the breakdown of traditional alliances. While the BJP is aggressively seeking to replicate its urban success in the villages, the contest is complicated by "friendly contests" within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, where the Shiv Sena has fielded candidates ...