India, Jan. 5 -- As campaigning for the most crucial phase of local body polls - to 29 municipal corporations across the state including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) - kicks off, a fresh slugfest has broken out among parties that are part of the ruling Mahayuti coalition in the state.

The slugfest commenced on Friday, when deputy chief minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over alleged corruption in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC); the BJP was voted to power in the corporation in the previous election. The BJP leadership responded sharply, warning Pawar about dire consequences.

Barring Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, the ruling allies are fig...