The JD had announced its first list of candidates on Wednesday in an apparent bid to call off negotiations for an alliance. Earlier, the Peasants & Workers Party and the Communist Party of India (CPI) had declared that it was not feasible to enter into an alliance with the NCP due to its high-handed attitude. Besides, its leaders made way for those who had supported the Shiv Sena-BJP Government. The Ramdas Athawale faction of the Republican Party of India (RPI) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) are in alliance with the NCP.

In the event of JD not joininghands with the NCP, top leaders are discussing the possibility of a `friendly fight' in those constituencies where the JD puts up its candidate, particularly where the JD candidate is a veteran or has a strong chance of victory. In other words, the NCP or its allies will refrain from nominating their candidate in such a constituency.

JD leader Madhu Dandavate's constituency Rajapur may see such a `friendly fight'. However, efforts are underway to keep JD in the alliance.

Meanwhile, the SP has already released its list of candidates for the Assembly election but it's not expected to create fissures with the NCP, say leaders.