Maha: BMC poll result today; Shiv Sena to continue reign?

Mumbai, Feb 17: Friday, Feb 17 is going to be one of the most crucial days for many people in Maharashtra, especially for Bal Thackeray - the supremo of Shiv Sena. The future of Bal Thackeray and his party will be decided on the day as the result of civic polls will be announced on Friday.

It's a do-or-die situation for the ruling Congress and NCP which are contesting the poll together for the first time. However, Bal Thackeray must be very anxious to know the result as his party has been ruling India's richest civic body since 1996.

Counting has already begun in Thane and Pune Municipal Corporation and according to sources, both Shiv Sena and NCP have got good response from the voters. Till 8 am, NCP candidates Amit Sariya (Ward 13B) and Radhabhai Jadhav (Ward 14B) were on lead in Thane.

However, Election Commission and political parties in the state expressed their disappointment with the low voter turnout which was just 46 percent. It seems that the elite class people in the state kept themselves away from the BMC poll.

"Mumbai's affluent do not vote as much, in fact not at all. And that's something that needs to change," said Congress MP Milind Deora. The BMC, which has a budget of over Rs 20,000 crore, has 227 seats. The crucial results are expected to be announced by Friday evening.

OneIndia News