Saffron alliance wins Mumbai, loses Nashik, Cong-NCP bag Pune

Mumbai: Surmounting anti-incumbency factor and stiff challenge from the MNS, Shiv Sena-BJP alliance on Friday retained the country's richest corporation BMC but Raj Thackeray's party played spoilsport for the saffron alliance in Nashik where it emerged as the single largest party unseating it.

As results were out in all the 10 municipal corporations that went to poll yesterday, the Sena-BJP combine was set to retain neighbouring Thane with the help of independents, while future looked uncertain for it in Ulhasnagar that threw up a hung house though Sena-BJP-RPI alliance emerged as the largest bloc, but substantially short of a majority.

In Nagpur, the Sena-BJP combine has emerged as the largest bloc with 68 seats but still five short of a simple majority. The Congress has won 41 seats and NCP 6, well behind the saffron alliance.

In Pune, despite the Congress and NCP contesting separately, the two together secured 79 seats in the 152- member corporation, two more than required for majority. While NCP led the tally with 51 seats, Congress got 28. The BJP secured 26 seats and Shiv Sena 15. The MNS secured 29 seats.

The state's ruling Congress-NCP combine continued its hold on Solapur, Amravati and Pimpri Chinchwad.

The 122-member Nashik corporation is all set to have a hung House with no party or combine near the 62 seats required for a majority. While the MNS has pocketed the largest number of 40 seats, The Congress-NCP combine has got 36 and Sena-BJP- RPI alliance 35.

It will be interesting to see if MNS supports any of the two major blocs in securing a majority or insists on having their backing for a majority of its own. The role of Independents and others who have bagged 11 seats will be crucial.