Maharashtra

Another state that is witnessing a neck-and-neck fight is Maharashtra. While the Congress-NCP alliance has won two seats here and is leading in 21 others, the BJP-Shiv Sena combine is giving an equal fight, with it too leading in 20 seats.

Among prominent candidates, BJP’s Ram Naik is trailing from Mumbai North. Congress’ Priya Dutt is ahead in Mumbai North Central and Petroleum Minister Murli Deora is leading from Mumbai South.
The counting is being held at over 4,000 counting halls across the country during which the fate of 8,070 candidates will be known. Counting began at 08:00 hrs in all 28 states and seven union territories. Votes polled in elections to state assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Sikkim are also being counted simultaneously.

A party or combine needs 272 seats in the 545-member Lok Sabha to form a government.

A little over half of the 71.377 crore registered voters cast their ballots through Electronic Voting Machines in the five-phased elections that began on April 16 and ended on May 13.

In all, 8,070 candidates, including from 46 national, and state parties, contested in the elections to 543 LS seats. Two members are nominated from Anglo-Indian community.