India, Nov. 24 -- A calculated remark made by Union home minister Amit Shah three weeks ago set the tone for local body elections in Maharashtra, beginning December 2. "The BJP no longer walks on crutches," Shah had declared. "It functions on its own strength."

Far from routine political bluster meant to rattle a weakened opposition, the comment appeared aimed like a rifle shot at the BJP's own alliance partners in the ruling Mahayuti government - the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Since then, the Mahayuti coalition partners - and their opposition rivals - are seeing a free-for-all at the local level, as parties forge alliances purely for convenience. While in many contests, the BJP ...