Shiv Sena set to retain power, former ally BJP at No 2 spot

Mumbai: Vote counting for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and nine other municipal corporations along with 25 zilla parishads (district councils) in Maharashtra started at 10am on Thursday. Among these, the outcome of elections to the BMC is the most keenly awaited as it is being seen as a direct clash between the National Democratic Alliance partners Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

A record high turnout in Mumbai—55.53% with 36 of the 227 civic wards witnessing more than 60% polling—has made the contest interesting and too close to call. In absolute terms, 5,097,565 voters took part in the polling out of the total electoral college of 9,180,491 registered voters.

Here are the key facts and latest updates as the counting progresses in Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra’s civic elections:

? 2.15pm: Sena races to 92 but pauses there, BJP moves up to 76. BJP indicates it may sit in opposition.

? 2.00pm: In late burst BJP reduces Sena margin, leads now on 73 seats against Sena’s 92 in Mumbai.

? 1.45pm: BJP, Sena trounce Cong-NCP in zilla parishad polls too. Results a big setback for Congress, NCP @livemint

? 1.25pm: Shiv Sena leads in 93 seats, BJP 61, Cong 22, MNS 10, NCP 7. City-wise, Sena leads Mumbai, Thane; BJP leads Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Solapur, Amravati, Akola; NCP Pimpri, according to the latest trends. BJP-Sena clear winner everywhere, Cong biggest loser, NCP holding on to Pimpri-Chinchwad.

? 1.10pm: Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam resigns accepting moral responsibility for the party’s loss, blames colleagues and demands action against Mumbai Congress leaders for “anti party activities”.

? 12.50pm: Shiv Sena leading on 90 seats, just 24 short of simple majority. BJP a distant second at 54, suggest latest trends. Follow us @livemint @abhiramgpatil

? 12.30pm: Shiv Sena leads in 87 seats in BMC polls. BJP ahead in 53, Congress–20, MNS–10, TV reports.

? 12.20pm: Ex-Shiv Sena Mayor Shraddha Jadhav wins consecutively for the 6th times from ward no. 202.

BJP’s Shaina NC, “This is a 50 increase in our number so far. We have done very well and we have grown in many wards where did not have our presence.

? 12.00pm: Trends on 149 of 227, Shiv Sena leads on 76, BJP 45, Cong 13, MNS 7, NCP 6. SS winning Mumbai, Thane, BJP gains elsewhere @livemint @abhiramgpatil

? 11.50am: Shiv Sena may cross the100-seat mark leaving its main rival BJP stuck at less than 70 seats, suggest early trends. Congress, NCP likely to be big losers everywhere according to early trends.

Trends available for 118 seats of the total 227 seats in Mumbai after 5 rounds of counting showed SS leading on 60 seats and BJP leading on 36. Exit polls had suggested a much closer contest than this.

Congress party was leading on 11 seats and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena on 5 seats. The Nationalist Congress Party was leading on 4 seats.The SS was also leading in its stronghold of Thane city leading on 15 seats, while the BJP was leading on 8 as per the trends of the total 131 seats.

In all other 8 cities though, the BJP has established substantial lead in early trends over all others.In Pune, the BJP was leading on 35 seats of the total 162 seats and NCP was leading on 13. The Pune Municipal Corporation is currently ruled by NCP.

In Nagpur, the BJP took lead on 19 seats of the total 151 in the early trends available for 27 seats.

In Nashik which is currently ruled by MNS, the BJP took a strong lead on 18 seats followed by SS on 8 seats.

It suggests Shiv Sena still big brother in Mumbai-Thane but BJP bigger player in all other 8 cities.

? 11.40am: BMC - Sena leading in 65 seats, BJP ahead in 37 seats, TV reports. Counting of votes for 151 wards in Nagpur underway. BJP leading on 16 wards and Congress on 4 wards.

? 11.35am: Thane – Shiv Sena marches towards big win, takes lead on 10 seats of total 131 seats.

? 11.30am: The Shiv Sena is leading on 39 and BJP on 25 in the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, as per the latest trends. Besides, the Congress is leading on 9, NCP on 2 and MNS on 3 seats, a State Election Commission official said. 

? 11.10am: In BMC polls, Shiv Sena leading in 40 seats while BJP leads in 27 seats.  Trends of nearly one third seats show Shiv Sena is ahead in nearly half total seats in BMC. 

In Pune, BJP is ahead in 20 seats, while Shiv Sena and NCP lead in 10 seats each. Congress leads just in one seat.In Nashik, BJP leads in 10 seats while Shiv Sena is ahead in 7 seats. Both Congress and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leading in one seat each.

? 10.50am: Congress wins Ahmednagar seat. In BMC, Shiv Sena is leading on 10 wards, BJP on 9 wards, Congress on 3 wards. 

? 10.40am: BMC counting underway; Shiv Sena is leading on 10 wards, BJP on 9 wards, Congress on 3 wards.

Out of 6 wards, BJP’s Ravi Landge has been elected unopposed in Pimpri-Chinchwad, CNN-News 18 reported.

? 10.30am: Initial trends suggest Shiv Sena leading in Pune’s 3 seats, while BJP leads on 2 seats in Nagpur. BJP and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) lead in one seat each in Pimpri-Chinchwad. Shiv Sena is leading in 8 seats in Ulhasnagar. Shiv Sena takes early lead on ward no 200 and 202, while BJP leads on ward no. 218, say TV reports.

? 10.00am: Vote counting starts, early trends by 11am, say TV reports.

? 9.55am: An India Today-Axis exit poll has predicted 86-92 seats for the Shiv Sena in the 227-member BMC and 82-88 seats for the BJP.

? 9.30am: In addition to BMC, counting will be underway for Thane, Ulhasnagar, Nashik, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, Akola, Amravati and Nagpur municipal corporations.