India, Dec. 31 -- With just two hours remaining before the nomination deadline, the alliance between the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena broke down in Pimpri-Chinchwad on Tuesday, paving the way for a fragmented contest in the civic polls.

At around 12:30 pm, senior Shiv Sena leader and MP Shrirang Appa Barne announced that the party would contest the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) elections independently, after seat-sharing talks with the BJP fell apart. Barne revealed that in a key meeting with BJP MLA Shankar Jagtap, the Shiv Sena had proposed contesting 29 seats. However, the BJP lowered its offer, first to 16, then to 13, and ultimately to just 10 seats, leading to the breakdown of the alliance.

"A proposal t...