In a dramatic move on Saturday, the BJP asked its official candidate in the state legislative council polls (BMC constituency), Manoj Kotak, to withdraw his nomination.

Sources say Kotak’s withdrawal was expected to benefit NCP rebel Prasad Lad, who is in the fray with Shiv Sena’s Ramdas Kadam and Congress' Bhai (Ashok) Jagtap. Lad quit the NCP early this week to contest the polls as an independent because the NCP is in alliance with the Congress in eight vacancies across the state.