India, Jan. 2 -- With the spike in the number of rebel voices emerging in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) across the state in almost all municipal corporations, the party has set up a parallel system involving senior leaders to persuade the dissidents to withdraw their nominations. Key leaders, including chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, have stepped up to coax the defiant, with a promise of placing them in the legislative council or statutory boards.

Party workers in at least 12 wards in Mumbai have posed challenges for official candidates by filing nominations. Cultural affairs minister Ashish Shelar and Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam have the responsibility to turn them around.

People in the know have said that Fadnavis has hand-picke...