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Maharashtra :BMC polls counting underway, Shiv Sena takes early lead ahead of BJP

by India Blooms News Service 22 Feb 2017, 07:10 pm

Mumbai, Feb 23 (IBNS) : Counting of votes in the elections for BMC and nine other municipal corporations in Maharashtra began on Thursdaymorning with the Shiv Sena taking an initial lead ahead of the BJP in the battle for the countrys richest civic body, reports said.

According to reports till 11 am, the Sena is leading in 40 seats while the BJP is ahead in 26. The Congress is in the third position with leads in nine seats.

The BMC has been controlled by the Shiv Sena for the last 20 years.

Though the Sena and BJP were allies since 1992 they are fought as main rivals in the civic polls. 

Exit polls results have predicted a neck and neck fight with the Sena holding an edge. 

 The average voting in the Maharashtra municipal polls held on Tuesday was 56.40 per cent, against 48.59 per cent for the same in 2012.

 Mumbai recorded 55.53 per cent polling, highest in the last 25 years and ten per cent higher than 2012.