India, Jan. 22 -- With no single party securing a clear majority in several civic bodies, intense political manoeuvring and aggressive negotiations are afoot. The latter include attempts to woo corporators from rival parties, forge alliances with traditional adversaries and liberally apply pressure tactics to secure support.

The political churn is visible across Kolhapur, Chandrapur, Malegaon, Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), Ulhasnagar and even the BMC. In Bhiwandi, Kolhapur and even in Chandrapur, the Congress, despite emerging as the single largest party, may not be able to form the local government due to a lack of post-poll support. In Malegaon, political circles indicate the possibility of strange bedfellows Islam Part...