India, Feb. 2 -- The bitter rivalry between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in Navi Mumbai intensified on Sunday with both parties fielding candidates for the mayoral and deputy mayoral elections. The nomination process in the BJP was shrouded in secrecy, and party strongman and former minister Ganesh Naik unilaterally declared candidates for both posts, prompting Mahayuti ally Shiv Sena to rebuke his "political arrogance".

Municipal Secretary Sangharatna Khillare accepted nominations from all four candidates on Sunday morning. In the poll scheduled on February 5, BJP's Sujata Suraj Patil will take on Sena's Saroj Rohidas Patil for the mayor's post, while BJP's Dashrath Bhagat will take on Sena's Akas...