India, Dec. 31 -- Unlike the first phase of local body elections that largely saw a straight contest between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the municipal corporation polls in major cities across Maharashtra have thrown up a different picture.

In several corporations going to polls in the second phase, there is no clear Mahayuti-versus-MVA battle. Instead, parties across the ruling and opposition camps have formed alliances based on their electoral benefits, blurring ideological lines.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena are contesting together in at least 15 of the 29 municipal corporations. However, the natural allies who came together for the cause of "Hindutva" could not rea...