India, Jan. 6 -- The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) has initiated disciplinary action against rebel candidates who refused to withdraw nominations despite the party's instructions and has extended support to alliance partners' candidates in the affected wards.

Action was taken in Navi Peth-Parvati and Hadapsar-Satavwadi wards, where NCP (SP) nominees continued in the fray even after the party finalised its seat-sharing arrangement with the Ajit Pawar-led faction.

NCP (SP) state president Shashikant Shinde said delays in alliance negotiations had forced the party to issue AB forms to candidates in several wards before the seat-sharing formula was finalised. "Once the seat-sharing was concluded, the party instructed its ...