The political pot is being furiously stirred as elections draw nearer. Parties are upping the ante and big guns are firing salvos, as the booth battle hots up. Shiv Sena has lost, reports stated its, 'star campaigner' after deputy Shiv Sena leader Dr Amol Kolhe recently moved to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

In a turbo-charged political climate, switching parties may not evince reactions, but given Kolhe's profile, the move has analysts expressing 'shock'. Pune-based Kolhe though dismissed the 'shock' element. He said he had enjoyed his time with Uddhav Thackeray's party and has "love and respect for the Sena leader".