India, Jan. 31 -- The battle for control of Uran's rural heartland has intensified into a political turf war, transforming the upcoming zilla parishad (ZP) and panchayat samiti elections into a survival contest for the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) against an aggressive Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In a taluka long shaped by labour unions, the emerging "Third Mumbai" and the new international airport, a record 75 candidates are vying for dominance across 12 key seats - four in the Raigad ZP and eight in the panchayat samiti.

For the PWP, this election is a battle for survival. Uran has traditionally been an agrarian fortress for the PWP, but the BJP is attempting to dismantle this final stronghold.

On the other hand, BJP MLA Mahesh...