Thackeray Faction Faces Rebel Challenge in BMC Polls; BJP Also Hit

• BMC elections approaching, with intense ward-level strategies and potential internal dissent.
• Thackeray faction faces highest rebellion with eight members contesting independently after being denied nominations.
• BJP also sees five rebels in the fray, despite leadership efforts to pacify disgruntled aspirants.
• Rebels, including those using Shiv Sena's 'Bow and Arrow' symbol, complicate contests, making them triangular or quadrangular.
• These independent candidates hold public influence and could be decisive in close races, impacting BMC power equations.

Why It Matters: Rebel candidates from Thackeray faction and BJP could significantly alter BMC election outcomes.