Shishir Gupta: Maha civic polls a huge relief for Gadkari too. Shiv Sena win will now force him not to dabble with mns  

Ash Dubey: So MNS managed to damage SS a bit, yet it manages to strive forward. Raj Thakrey an over-estimated Name in SS? SharadPawar finally "Finished"

On Firstpost.com: Why do the rich not vote in Mumbai? There are several reasons why. And the most important one is that it is a waste of time in a city that is not going to be governed like a city. Till the governance structure is changed, no amount of voter awareness will make a difference.

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A very civil tweet from Congress MP Milind Deora (with a dig at the MNS thrown in): Congrats to Shivsena (its independents & coordination with MNS) for winning the Mumbai Municipal polls. Hope the next 5 years see progress.

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Mid Day cartoonist Satish Acharya's take during the 2009 polls a comment on Mumbai's dismal 45% turnout yesterday.

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The Maharashtra CM's pre-poll prophecy during the campaign trail that the Shiv Sena would become inconsequential after the results of Mumbai polls has become an embarassement of sorts for the party.

While Uddhav Thackeray did not comment on Chavan's statement, the party's MP in the Rajya Sabha Sanjay Raut said the Sena-BJP win was a slap in the face of the CM.

Meanwhile Sharad Pawar says that voters have maintained the status quo. The NCP emerged as the single largest party in the Pune civic polls today.

Expressing satisfaction over the results of civic polls in Mumbai and elsewhere in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray told reporters outside Matoshri residence in suburban Bandra this afternoon that he was "overwhelmed". 

"I thank people for reposing faith in me and my party. Today is a good day. Let me celebrate it. I am overwhelmed," he said.

Shiv Sena-BJP-RPI alliance has emerged as the biggest group in the Mumbai corporation and is likely to retain the power. The grouping has got similar success in the neighbouring Thane city. 

"I don't want to comment on what the CM has said (now). I want to celebrate this win," Uddhav said. 

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had said during the campaign that Shiv Sena would become inconsequential after the results of Mumbai polls. This was not a small victory, Uddhav said.

"Congress and NCP were united against us, yet we managed the win," he added.

Here's the breakup in Mumbai for the 227/227 seats at 6 pm.

Congress: 53, NCP: 13, Shiv Sena: 76, BJP: 29, MNS: 28, Others: 27

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In 2007, the Sena-BJP had won 112 seats in BMC polls, just two short of the magic 114, but had enlisted the support of four independents later.

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Overcoming the anti-incumbency factor, the Shiv Sena-BJP combine today appeared set to retain the prestigious Mumbai and neighbouring Thane municipal corporations.

In the 152-member Pune Municipal Corporation, where state's ruling Congress-NCP alliance fought separately, the NCP is leading the tally winning 38 of the 104 seats declared so far. The Congress has won 17. 

Springing a surprise, Raj Thackeray's MNS is second largest with 21 seats, BJP 17 and Shiv Sena 08. The Congress-NCP combine had won the elections to the Pune municipal body in 2007.

Counting still on for the BMC polls in Mumbai, though the Sena-BJP combine is set to rule and retain power with the help of independents.

In Pune, the NCP is likely to be single largest party in the civic polls.

In Nagpur: The BJP is leading over the Congress.

The BJP's Arun Jaitley cashes on to the win saying it reflects an anti Congress tide in the country. The fourth phase of the UP polls is on Sunday.

#Mumbai-Thane-Poll-Results

In other news: Maneka Gandhi's moment in the sun.

Alleging that the Congress has made a mockery of the Election Commission, BJP leader Maneka Gandhi today demanded resignations of union ministers Salman Khurshid and Beni Prasad Verma.

"The Congress has made mockery of the Election Commission. Both Salman and Beni neither knows law nor religion. Why they are talking of giving only 18 per cent reservation to muslims. Why they don't provide 100 per cent  reservation to them", Maneka said.

Both these ministers should resign, she said adding that Congress did not have respect for any institution. She alleged that Salman could lie to any extent to ensure victory of his wife (Louis Khurshid).

More reactions from Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut coming in:

-- Shortly after the Sena combine emerged as the largest bloc in the BMC polls, Raut said citizens of the megapolis would never tolerate the insult of Shiv Sena president Bal Thackeray.

-- On Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan's statement that Sena supremo would become irrelevant after the Mumbai polls: Results are a slap for Chavan too.

--  On Raj Thackeray-led MNS: There is nothing like MNS factor.

Rajennair: Mumbai has lost its right to complaint anymore, Shiv Sena-BJP set to rule again

Atul Khatri: Shiv-Sena BJP alliance all set to rule the BMC for another 5 years ! The tiger gets its teeth back !

Chaitanya: BOLA "AWAAZ KONACHA? SHIVSENACHA!

A break from the civic polls in Maharashtra to give you this.

Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa writes to PM Manmohan Singh on NCTC.

The plan for creation of the ambitious National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) has come under attack from non-Congress Chief Ministers, including
ally Trinamool Congress, but the Centre rejected criticism that it would infringe on the states' powers. 

The TN CM writes:

"You are well aware of my strong commitment to supporting all measures and efforts taken for strengthening the unity and integrity of India and for upholding its sovereignty.

The security of India should not be compromised under any circumstances. With this as the prelude, I would like to draw your attention to a recent office memorandum of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs... which speaks about the establishment of a National Counter Terrorism Centre under the Intelligence Bureau from 1st March, 2012."

The details of that letter shortly.

Every single word of what MNS chief Raj Thackeray said this afternoon shortly after his party wrested Dadar, historically a Shiv Sena stronghold.

The MNS, as of now, is leading in 29 seats.

Raj Thackeray today kept mum on whether he would extend support to Shiv Sena-BJP-RPI alliance in its bid to retain power in the civic body of India's financial capital. "We have not come to that stage... who to help. Let all
figures (results) come," Raj told reporters at his residence in Dadar this afternoon.

Asked if MNS was ready to sit on opposition benches, Raj said, "Yes, why not? I am happy with MNS's performance in Mumbai," he said. 

Stay with these facts for a bit till more reactions or news of candidate wins come in. 

• The BMC is the richest civic body in India.
• It has been ruled by the Shiv Sena combine for 16 years. Though some figures say it's 17 years.
• The BMC has an annual budget of Rs 21,000 crore.
• Given all that, the turnout yesterday for voting was an abysmal 46 per cent.
• For the first time ever, the Congress and Sharad Pawar's NCP are fighting this election together. 

At 4.15 pm: Leads from all 227 BMC seats are available and as follows: Shiv Sena+BJP+RPI: 107, Congress+NCP: 65, MNS: 29, Others: 26.

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Who said what:

A while ago, Raj Thackeray said it was not necessary to always join forces with another party and he would much rather go it alone.

Sena MP Sanjay Raut says the people have voted for Uddhav Thackeray. "We don't think we need the help of the MNS right now. We can reign over the BMC on our own strength, but that's a decision Balasaheb will have to take."

First reactions coming in from Raj Thackeray. He says the party has performed well and thanks Pune and Nashik citizens for handing him a victory. Looking calm, Raj said he would look at the results before he figures out the way ahead, but promised that the party would make headway in Maharashtra slowly, but surely.

The MNS won seven seats in Thane and leads in 27 seats in Mumbai.

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Shiva Sena MP Sanjay Raut who declared a party win in the BMC well before it was anywhere near the halfway mark of 114 said today that the results proved that Raj Thackeray was neither a king nor a kingmaker.

Shiv Sena-BJP-RPI combine is at 104 leads, with 7 leads yet to come in, just short of the magic figure of 114. Figures at 3:40 pm are:

Mumbai: SS+BJP: 104, Cong+NCP:67, MNS: 27, Others: 28

Thane : SS+BJP: 61, Cong+NCP: 52, MNS: 7, Others: 11

Nagpur: SS+BJP: 29, Cong+NCP: 16, MNS: 01, Others: 10

Pune: SS+BJP: 16, Cong+NCP: 49, MNS: 20, Others: 03

Nashik: SS+BJP: 15, Cong+NCP: 28, MNS: 20, Others: 04

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The other big news of the day apart from the civic poll results in Maharashtra:

The plan for creation of the ambitious National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) has come under attack from non-Congress Chief Ministers, including
ally Trinamool Congress, but the Centre rejected criticism that it would infringe on the states' powers. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee joined Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in opposing the setting up of the anti-terror body and wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking him to "review and withdraw" the decision. 

Expressing concern that the NCTC would infringe on the federal rights of states, Banerjee had said: "It is difficult for the state government to accept such arbitrary exercise of power by the central government/central agency, which have a bearing on the rights and privilege of the states as enshrined in the Constitution of India".

The Shiv Sena-BJP combine rules the country's richest civic body of Mumbai besides neighbouring Thane (130), Ulhasnagar (78), Nashik (122) and Nagpur (145). As of now, it leads in all of the above and Akola.  

While we wait for more trends, results to come in, read Magasaysay Awardee  P Sainath's opinion piece on the Hindu on former Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh.

A lesser man's career might have ended long ago. But Vilasrao Deshmukh is not a lesser man. His success mounts in inverse proportion to his achievements.

Read

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If you've been wondering why we have a #BigB-In-Hospital-Wish-Him section, here's your discovery moment.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who was to undergo a second surgery today, is still under observation. "He was supposed to undergo second surgery as he had
developed pain post the first surgery. However, there is no hassle as such...he is not critical but under observation," hospital sources said.

The 69-year-old actor revealed last night that he will have to undergo a second surgery. "Some more tests... more unpronounceable medication... and... another visit to the OT... operation theatre! Going to be a long stay. I refrain from giving greater details of my condition...in the West patient has the right to not disclose
- even to family!!, Bachchan wrote on twitter last night.

Here's wishing him a speedy recovery.

The Shiv Sena-BJP combine seems set for new term in the BMC, with 104 leads in the 227 member body. Of these, 11 seats have still to be counted. Between them they have 104 gains.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who had claimed before the polls that Shiv Sena and its leader Bal Thackeray will be rendered irrelevant once the results were out, seems to have overestimated the Mumbaikar's eagerness to get rid of the 16-year "misrule" of the saffron alliance. 

The techno-savvy politician, who was despatched to Maharashtra after his predecessor Ashok Chavan had to step down in the wake of the Adarsh Housing Society scam, had painstakingly stitched up an alliance with NCP for the BMC poll in order to avoid split in secular votes. 

What had prompted Chavan to cobble together an alliance with NCP for the Mumbai civic body poll was the fact that in the last elections, the votes polled by the Congress and NCP, which had then contested the BMC poll separately, if added, would have yielded 132 seats.

"Hence, getting a simple majority of 114 seats in the 227-member BMC should not be difficult," Chavan had said. 

So then, the Congress-NCP combine's bid to wrest control of the BMC today appear to come to a nought with the country's richest civic body's ruling Shiv Sena-BJP alliance set to emerge as the largest bloc. 

With results and trends available so far from 221 of the 227 wards in Mumbai, the Sena-BJP combine has won or is leading in 104 wards, Congress-NCP 62, MNS 27 and others 28. 

Though the BMC results appear likely to throw up a hung House, the state's ruling Congress-NCP combine seems nowhere near the half-way mark to enable it to rule the Mumbai civic body, which has an annual budget of over 21,000 crore, more than many states.

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Here's what Twitter has been saying on the civic polls, primarily in Mumbai and Thane city.

Kiran Kumar S: With the impending Shiv Sena-BJP victory, will all mombatti brigade migrate to other states? What will happen to the "spirit of Mumbai"? :)  

Bombay Addict: Hey Mumbai, congrats! Get set for another scintillating 5 years under Shiv Sena BJP!

Venkat Ananth: Interesting. Shiv Sena-BJP not using Anand Dighe's picture in their hoardings here. But...MNS has him prominently displayed. Changing times!

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Uddhav-Raj gossip.

The Times of India reports that although senior MNS functionaries declined to go on record on the issue, enquiries revealed that Raj is upset with Uddhav's remark to mediapersons yesterday that the Sena might as well have a tie-up with the Congress instead of going with the MNS.

"Balasaheb Thackeray should first sell the rapprochement idea to Uddhav Thackeray before extending an invite to Rajsaheb," said a source in the MNS. 

The bitter Uddhav-Raj feud, which began in 2002 after the former was installed as Sena CEO at a party conclave, is being seen in the MNS as a major hurdle in the Matoshree-Raj reconciliation.

With Raj acting tough with Uddhav, Bal Thackeray will have to intervene to seal a pact with the MNS-this might be to Raj's liking, said MNS sources. 

Mumbai Mayor Shraddha Jadhav wins again, obviously from the Shiv Sena. 221 out of 227 leads are in, and the Shiv Sena-BJP combine has 103, needing another 11 for a majority.

Experts says that Raj Thackeray with 28 leads may not actually be the kingmaker, since the Sena may lean on the Others' who now lead with 28.

Legions of orange flags celebrate on the streets of Thane with the Shiv Sena headed for a sure-fire win with 61 seats.

Here's what's happening in Thane: Trends for all the 130 seats: ShivSena-BJP: 60, Congress-NCP: 53, MNS: 07, Others: 10

Thane city seems to be a reflection of the BMC poll trends. 

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Wonder if Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray is regretting offering the olive branch to estranged nephew Raj.

Yesterday, in a last-ditch effort to shore-up support for the party, Thackeray in an interview to a Marathi television channel, suggested that Uddhav and Raj bury the hatchet and come together "in the larger interests of Maharashtra".

Right now, it seems highly unlikely that the Sena will need MNS support (leading in 28) since it can easily go with the others' leading in 27 seats.

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First reactions coming in, Sanjay Raut, the Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP says the civic election results are victory for Uddhav Thackeray.

The trends right now of 221/227 seats: Sena+ 103, Cong+ 63, MNS: 28, Others: 27

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In an upset, ruling BJP's outgoing Mayor Archana Dehankar and Deputy Mayor Shekhar Sawarbandhe of Shiv Sena have lost to Congress nominees in their respective seats, as counting of votes for Nagpur Municipal Corporation
is underway. 

Congress candidates Harshada Sabde and Prashant Dhawad defeated Dehankar and Sawarbandhe respectively. 

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BMC polls: Trends at 1:23 pm: Of the 216 of the 227 constituencies, the Shiv Sena combine is ahead with 100, the Congress+NCP follows with 62, MNS with 27 and the others' tally is at 27 as well.

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Just in: BMC polls: All 7 seats of Dadar go to MNS, which is historically known as a Shiv Sena bastion.

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Updates for the BMC polls (Both leads and wins): Increasingly apparent that the SS-BJP combine is accelerating towards the finishing line of 114, but jury still out on whether they can reach the magic figure alone. Given the acrimony with the nephew, the Sena can make it happen by reaching out to the others (leading in 24 seats).

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At 1 pm, here's the update on the BMC polls.

-- After 17 years Mumbai still swings towards Sena, BJP combine. Leads in 97 seats.

-- MNS leads in 27 seats

-- Congress combine leads in 66 seats.

Will the MNS play kingmaker or will the 'Others' (leading in 25 seats), be gamechangers? Stay with us for all the latest on the civic polls.

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Congress+ 63, Shiv Sena+ 98, MNS: 27, Others: 27.

As we said earlier, figures have been changing every few minutes, but here's what it looked like at 12:54 pm. 

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Update on the Italian oil tanker Enrica Lexie, whose crew shot dead two fishermen mistaking them for pirates.

The tanker was brought to Kochi early this morning even as police and Coast Guard personnel are questioning the crew.  The ship has been berthed at Kochi oil terminal, where security has been tightened.

The coastal police have registered a murder case against the crew of the vessel based on the evidence of bullet injuries found on the bodies of the dead fishermen -- Valentine alias Jelestine (45) and Ajesh Binki (25)-- during post-mortem.

News from the state polls: The BJP has complained to the Election Commission against Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma on the minority sub-quota issue.

You may recollect that the minister for steel brought the government and the Election Commission to a face-to-face confrontation by openly defying the poll panel's warning not to rake up the minority quota promise during the election campaign. 

In Mumbai lead trends from 216 out of 227 seats show that the Sena combine has 96, MNS: 28, Cong combine: 61

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News that's just come on the Abu Salem case (absolutely unconnected with the civic polls, in case you are wondering).

The Supreme Court stays TADA proceedings in two cases against alleged
gangster Abu Salem in view of the Portugal court's order terminating his extradition to India.

The SC refuses to stay proceedings in other cases and issues notice to CBI and Centre on Salem's plea to quash all criminal cases against him.

In Nagpur, the second capital of the state, the ruling BJP has won 14 seats so far. Congress has won 7 seats; NCP, Shiv Sena, BSP and MNS have bagged one seat each, while two seats have been claimed by independents.

In Nashik, BJP had won two seats, where results are out. 

In Pune, in an upset for NCP, Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal has lost to his BJP rival as per the early results for the 152-member Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

MNS has won 5 seats, NCP has won 7, Congress 3, BJP 2 and Shiv Sena 1 in Pune so far.

Congress and NCP had fought the civic elections independently in Pune while the Saffron alliance of BJP and Shiv Sena joined forces with Ramdas Athavale faction of RPI.

#Mumbai-Thane-Poll-Results

Update on Monday's Israeli car blast in New Delhi.

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah has made it clear that his Lebanese group had 'nothing to do' with the attacks on Israeli diplomats in India and Georgia. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah has made it clear that his Lebanese group had 'nothing to do' with the attacks on Israeli diplomats in India and Georgia.

"I assure you that Hezbollah has nothing to do with this,' Nasrallah told a rally in a televised address in Beirut's southern suburbs to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the assassination of his top military commander Imad Mughniyeh.

Nasrallah, however, vowed to avenge the death of Mughniyeh, killed in a mysterious car bomb attack in 2008 in Syria, which his group blames on Israel. "Our revenge will not be against Israeli soldiers or diplomats; it is actually offensive for Hezbollah to avenge a great leader by killing regular Israelis,' Nasrallah said. 

In other news as we wait for seats to be declared in the BMC polls: In a shocking instance of Mahatma Gandhi's image being desecrated by an artist who hasn't left a signature behind, a black-and-white stenciled graffiti image of the Father of the Nation has appeared on the wall of a public urinal at the Hauz Khas Market, off Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.

The anonymous graffiti artist's insult to the man who steered the nation to freedom drew an instant response from Supreme Court senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan.

Read

BMC seat tally at 12 pm, trends in 199/227 seats:  

Congress+ 58, Shiv Sena+ 95, MNS: 30, Others: 24

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Counting of votes for 122 wards of Nashik Municipal Corporation began at 10 this morning. 

Early trends: 26/122: Leading: Congress: 05, NCP: 05, ShivSena: 05, BJP: 04, MNS: 06, Others: 01. The BJP has won two seats.  

BJP candidate Dr Rahul Aher was declared elected. He defeated nearest rival, NCP's Gokul Pingle by a margin of 100 votes. Sitting BJP corporator Seema Mahesh Hiray was also declared elected.

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Poll forecasters say that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (incidentally, the country's richest civic body), appeared headed towards a hung House, going by early trends and results. Counting for 10 municipal corporation polls held yesterday and elections to 27 zilla parishads and 309 Panchayat Samitis held on February 7 began this morning. 

In Mumbai, the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP combine was ahead in 87 seats, while the Congress-NCP combine was ahead in 60 seats. Raj Thackeray-led MNS was leading in about 27 seats.

Altogether 2,232 candidates were in the fray for 227 electoral wards in Mumbai. The Shiv Sena-BJP combine rules Mumbai, besides the neighbouring Thane (total seats 130), Ulhasnagar (78), Nashik (122) and Nagpur (145). Congress controls Amravati (87), the Congress-NCP combine rules in Pune (152) and Solapur (102).

NCP alone holds Pimpri-Chinchwad civic body (126) while Congress alone rules in Amravati (87). Akola municipal corporation has 73 seats and was under
Congress-NCP rule but was dissolved by state government last  year over financial irregularities.

 #Mumbai-Thane-Poll-Results

Declared seats in the BMC polls, as of 11.29 am: 

Congress combine: 18

Sena combine: 22

MNS: 11

Others: 1

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Hundred is the magical number that political parties are aspiring to cross to give themselves a chance of attaining power in the BMC.

While none of them believe their coalitions can get an absolute majority in the 227-seat House on their own, but believe that crossing the 100 mark would give them the first right of refusal in case of a hung House.

BMC seat tally so far, trends in 178/227 seats: 

Shiv Sena+ 79, MNS: 25, Congress+ 53, Others: 21.

 #Mumbai-Thane-Poll-Results

News channels going apoplectic with news that the Shiv Sena is celebrating a win. Images showing Sena supporters vigorously waving their flags.

 #Mumbai-Thane-Poll-Results

A leading newspaper yesterday said that in Mumbai alone, candidates from all constituencies dolled out over Rs 1.5 crore on poll campaigning and canvassing -- in just last two weeks.

This comes to about a Rs 15 crore expenditure per constituency, which together adds up to a whopping amount of Rs 3,000 crore in the whole of Mumbai.

 #Mumbai-Thane-Poll-Results

Right now, in the Mumbai civic polls, the Shiv Sena combine leads with 70 seats, followed by the Congress+NCP with 52 seats. The MNS going strong with 25 seats. That's the trend results of a total of 164 out 227 seats.

 #Mumbai-Thane-Poll-Results

And the figures (leading) for the MNS have gone up: The party is leading in 23 seats. The other figures right now are: Cong+: 44, SS+: 60, Others: 13.

Trend (leading) of 139/227 seats in the BMC.

Leading with 19 seats Raj Thackeray's MNS may play kingmaker in BMC. If you remember, Raj had said he wanted to be king and not kingmaker in the BMC and TMC polls.

In Thane 91/130 trend results so far:

16: Cong, NCP: 22, Shiv Sena: 36, BJP: 6, MNS: 6, Others: 5.

The Pune mayor, a NCP candidate has lost.

The trends from Nagpur so far: SS+BJP:10, Cong: 2, NCP: 1

The leading trend of 83 out of /227 seats in the BMC polls as of 10.25 am.

Cong+NCP: 20, Shiv Sena+BJP+RPI: 43, MNS: 12, Others: 9

If you're joining us right now, the counting has begun for the BMC, TMC, Nagpur, Pune and Nashik civic polls.

Elections to 27 zilla parishads and 309 panchayat samitis were held on February 7.

In Mumbai, 2,232 candidates were in the fray for 227 electoral wards in the city.

Elections were also held on Thursday in Ulhasnagar, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, Nashik, Akola, Amravati and Nagpur municipal corporations.On Thursday, Mumbai witnessed a poor turnout of only 46 per cent, even as the battle for India's richest civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, is the most fiercely contested.

The BMC has an annual budget of Rs. 20,000 crore and its policies have huge impact on daily life in the megapolis.

Mumbai so far: SS+BJP: 32,Congress+NCP: 20, MNS: 11, Others 09.

Leading trends from 75 seats so far.

Trends from 69 seats available of the 227 so far. The MNS is emerging as a serious threat, up from 07 seats in the last polls to 10 seats (leading) now  

The Shiv Sena combine is leading in 30 seats so far.

The numbers are changing as we write...

In the BMC polls, trends of 62 seats are out of a total of 227 seats.

As of 10:10 am the leads are SS combine 25, MNS 11, Congress: 17.

Thane poll trends so far: SS: 25, NCP 16 ,Congress 11, MNS 9, BJP 4. The pressure remains on the Shiv Sena to continue their winning trend, unbeaten for the last 18 years.

As for the Mumbai civic polls, the Shiv Sena has ruled the for the last 18 years.

So far trends from 43 seats out of a total of 227 have come in.

The MNS is leading in seven seats in Mumbai.

A low turnout at the BMC polls yesterday got mixed reactions from the leading contenders. While Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray indicated a hung House by claiming he would be happy if Uddhav and his estranged cousin Raj came together again, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan sounded almost cocky, reports the Times of India. 

Attributing the poor turnout to the long weekend, he said, "I don't think that will halt the Congress-NCP from taking over the BMC.

Trends coming in from 89 of the 130 seats in Thane city  suggest the Cong-NCP is leading in 37 seats, while the SS-BJP combine is just behind with 33 seats, while the MNS has six seats.

Counting of votes for the 10 municipal corporations, including Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, and 27 zilla parishads in Maharashtra, began this
morning. 

While the municipal corporation polls were held yesterday, elections to 27 zilla parishads and 309 Panchayat Samitis were held on February 7. In Mumbai, 2,232 candidates were in the fray for 227 electoral wards in the city.
Elections were also held yesterday in Thane, Pune, Ulhasnagar, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, Nashik, Akola, Amravati and Nagpur municipal corporations. 

The Shiv Sena-BJP combine rules the country's richest civic body of Mumbai besides neighbouring Thane (130), Ulhasnagar(78), Nashik (122) and Nagpur (145), whereas Congress controls Amravati (87), the Congress-NCP combine Pune (152) and Solapur (102). NCP holds Pimpri-Chinchwad civic body (126) and Congress Amravati (87). Akola municipal corporation has 73 seats and was under Congress-NCP rule but was dissolved by state government last year over financial irregularities.