Ruling SS-BJP ahead in Mumbai, Thane; MNS opens account

Mumbai, Feb 2 (UNI) The ruling Shiv Sena-BJP alliance is all set to retain its stronghold over BrihanMumbai municipal Corporation(BMC), the richest in the country, despite suffering reverses in the last parliamentary and assembly elections.

The Sena also looks set to retain its control over the neighbouring Thane municipal corporation.

Out of the 120 results declared so far in Mumbai, Shiv Sena seems to be emerging as the single largest party with 48 seats along with its saffron sibling, BJP, which won 16 seats, while Congress followed with 33 seats.

Congress, which bore the brunt of division of secular votes, also suffered because the ''Narayan Rane'' factor, did not work.

Prominent Rane supporters like former Mumbai Mayor Hareshwar Patil and Rajendra Kale, son of former Shiv Sena MLA Nandkumar Kale, who had switched over to the Congress, were defeated.

NCP bagged seven seats, SP 5, Independents four and others seven which clearly indicated that they had cut into the Congress votes.

Others include MNS which won three seats.

In Thane, out of 107 results declared so far, Shiv Sena bagged 43 seats while BJP got five seats, Congress 15, NCP 23, MNS three, SP five, BSP two, others one and Independents ten.

The one-year-old party MNS made an impressive start of its political innings winning 27 seats, including three each in Thane and Mumbai, two in Ulhasnagar, eight in Pune, 11 in Nashik, two in Nagpur.

Gangster turned MLA Arun Gawli's daughter Geeta and sister-in-law Vandana won in their respective wards on the Akhil Bharatiya Sena (ABS) tickets, while his right hand man and sitting corporator Sunil Ghate was defeated.

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