India, Dec. 31 -- As the deadline for filing nominations for the 2026 BMC elections closed in, crazy scenes were witnessed at the centres. At 4.50 pm, Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Arun Kamble rushed in sweating and nervous with three or four supporters carrying plastic folders filled with documents. "I received my AB form just now," he explained. "About four to five contenders were fighting for my ward (No 92), and finally the party chose me." Kamble's supporters ran helter-skelter, checking if they had all the documents minutes before the gates of the nomination centre were locked in the presence of a videographer.

Lisa Chavan, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate from Ward no 88, meanwhile, missed the opportunity to contest altogether....