India, Dec. 14 -- The clamour over "vote chori" (vote theft) is growing louder as Mumbai approaches a pivotal political moment. These allegations, of electoral rolls inflated with fictitious voters, to favour the ruling dispensation, have got the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) cleaning up its voters' list. After all, the municipal elections, just over six weeks away, will decide which political alliance steers the civic governance - political and fiscal - of the country's financial capital.

Alongside the BMC's massive clean-up drive, a similar exercise is underway. Working after hours, silently and efficiently, are foot soldiers of the Shiv Sena (UBT), calling out the alleged "vote chori" by its rivals.

Conducting a parallel v...