India, Dec. 1 -- A spike in leopard sightings across Junnar and Shirur tehsils and the surrounding areas-both during the day and at night-has caused visible anxiety among residents, casting a shadow over the local body election campaign.

Although campaigning is permitted till 10 pm, most candidates have been winding up much earlier. With winter evenings setting in early and repeated reports of leopard movement, political workers have been avoiding late-evening visits that usually intensify after sundown.

Leopards have been spotted right from the village entry points to the peripheral areas, forcing candidates to rethink their routes. In many pockets, public movement drops sharply after 8 pm, affecting the presence and energy of campaign...