Nashik: Even as the Congress and BJP were engaged in a bitter fight over who rules Karnataka and who wins the majority in the state assembly, in Maharashtra, a strange picture emerged as the BJP decided to support the Congress and NCP combine in Nashik.

A new political twist took place in the State Legislative Council polls in Nashik on Monday as BJP officially informed its members in the local self-government constituency to vote for Congress-NCP candidate to counter Sena.

The contest between Congress-NCP candidate Shivaji Sahane and Sena candidate Narendra Darade became a direct fight, as BJP decided to back the Congress-NCP candidate to counter Shiv Sena.

This is now seen as an indication of a new equation emerging in politics as far as North Maharashtra is concerned.

The official State spokespersons from both sides refused to comment on the issue.