The Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena alliance is all set to win a second term in Maharashtra, with the two leading parties likely to win over 160 seats in the Assembly elections.

According to latest trends on the Election Commission website, the BJP's tally stood at 102, with 63 wins. The Sena's won 44 seats and was leading on 13 seats.

Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party was victorious on 39 seats and its 14 candidates were leading, while the Congress' tally was 47, including 28 wins.

In the 2014 Assembly elections, the BJP and the Sena had contested separately, where BJP had won 122 seats while the Sena 63. The Congress had bagged 42 seats and the NCP 41.

Sharad Pawar-led NCP has emerged as the largest gainer, while the BJP's tally took a considerable dip. Former CM Prithviraj Chavan said the results have thrown up an "interesting possibility", but did not clarify further.

Addressing reporters at the party headquarters, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the BJP-Sena combine will rule the state for another term. "I thank the people of Maharashtra for giving a clear mandate to the 'Mahayuti' (grand alliance). No doubt, the next government will be ours.”

Asked about government formation with BJP, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray reminded the BJP of implementing an agreed formula. "It is time to remind the BJP about the formula arrived at when BJP chief Amit Shah visited my home. We had decided on a fifty-fifty formula for the alliance," he said

"We agreed to contest fewer seats (than the BJP), but I cannot accommodate the BJP every time. I should allow my party to grow," Thackeray said.

Fadnavis said the BJP contested 260 seats in 2014 and won 122. "This time, we contested 150 seats and our allies 14 and as per trends, we are likely to win 105 seats. Our strike rate was 47 per cent in 2014, now it is 70 per cent," he said. He said the BJP secured 28 per cent votes in 2014 and polled around 26 per cent votes across 164 seats this time.

Fadnavis, however, expressed shock at the defeat of party candidates Udayanraje Bhosale in the Satara Lok Sabha bypoll and minister Pankaja Munde in Parli Assembly seat.

Most political heavyweights from the oppositon parties are holding their ground. NCP's Ajit Pawar has won by a margin of over 1.2 lakh votes from Baramati in the sugar belt of Western Maharashtra.

Former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan of the Congress was leading in Karad south constituency. Another former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan of the Congress won in Bhokar.

(With inputs from agencies)

First Published:Oct 24, 2019 10:17 AM IST