As the counting of votes progresses in 29 municipalities across Maharashtra, the trends have favoured the BJP, with the party leading in atleast 224 seats of the 2,869 seats in 380 wards of the state.
In an election that proved that people still have faith in the BJP, Shinde's Shiv Sena is leading with 56 seats, and Congress is leading with 30 seats. The Thackeray group has a lead of 29 seats, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP has a lead of 26 seats.
Though the BJP is leading in 22 of the 29 municipal corporations, there is also some news for the Congress. The Maha Aghadi, an alliance of Congress-backed parties, is leading in four - Kolhapur, Solapur, Latur, and Vasai Virar - of the 29 municipal corporations.
Meanwhile, its ally, the Vanchit Vikas Aghadi (VVA), is leading in Vasai Virar.
In Kolhapur, a close contest is being witnessed between the Congress and the BJP. According to the information available so far, Congress is leading in 12 seats, while the BJP is ahead in 10. This has become a prestige battle for several prominent leaders, including Satej Patil, Dhananjay Mahadik, and NCP's Hasan Mushrif.
In Lathur, Congress has once again proved its dominance with leading in 14 seats, while the BJP is ahead in 6 seats. The main contest in Latur Municipal Corporation was between the Congress, BJP, and the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP. There was an alliance between the Congress and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi in this municipality. A total of 369 candidates from all parties were in the fray. Out of the total 70 seats, 36 seats are required for victory. 36 is the majority figure.
In Solapur, the Congress and the BJP are in a tough fight.
According to the latest updates of Maharashtra Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation vote counting, VVA and others are leading in 66 wards, BJP is leading in 48 wards, SS (UBT) is leading in 1 ward.
