BJP-Sena combine get majority in Nagpur

JOYOUS CELEBRATIONS: Celebrations began as the BJP-Sena combine came close to the magic number in Nagpur.

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Mumbai: Jubilant party workers from the BJP-Shiv Sena combine celebrated outside the main counting centre at Nagpur - scenes that were repeated across other Sena bastions, which voted them back to power.

The joyous celebration began as the Saffron combine came very close to the magic number in Nagpur. The BJP-Sena combine got a total of 63 seats maintaining their simple majority over the city.

Nagpur: (135/135)

*SS+BJP 63

*Congress 33

*NCP 8

*Others 31

In Nasik the story was the same with the combine getting 40 seats - very close to the magic number of 45.

Nasik: (90/90)

*SS+BJP 40

*Cong 21

*NCP 17

*Others 12

In Thane too, the colour seemed to be saffron with 53 seats though just short of the halfway mark of 58.

Thane: (116/116)

*SS+ BJP 53

*Cong 16

*NCP 25

*Others 22

The Sena stronghold in Thane hasn't changed loyalties though it has thrown up some new surprises in the form of the Samajwadi Party and the BSP both making their presence felt in the city.

Maharashtra's second city Pune, delivered a fractured mandate with the anti-incumbency vote not swinging in any direction.

Pune: (144/144)

*BJP/Sena 45

*Cong 35

*NCP 42

*Others 22

However, the neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad areas voted back its strongmen from the NCP.

Pimpri-Chinchwad: (105/105)

*SS+ BJP 13

*Cong 20

*NCP 60

*Others 12

While Pimpri voted the NCP back to power, Pune's voting has been indecisive and much will depend on if the NCP and Congress can bury the hatchet and come together in a post-poll alliance.

Says NCP leader, Ajit Pawar, "Though we had earlier said we wouldn't work with the Congress, we will do a rethink."

An alliance between the two parties could salvage the defeat in some other towns as well. Solapur, Akola and even Ulhasnagar could still swing either way.

(With inputs from Piyush Pushpak in Nagpur and Shilpa Dhamija in Pune)