The BJP-Shiv Sena combine appears to have secured an unassailable lead in most of the 48 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra.
Senior BJP leaders and Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Subhash Bhamre are leading in Nagpur and Dhule seats respectively. All Congress candidates, including former Union minister Sushilkumar Shinde, State party president Ashok Chavan and Mumbai unit chief Milind Deora, are trailing in their seats.
In Maval, sitting Shiv Sena MP Shrirang Barne has established a comfortable lead over his NCP rival Parth Pawar, the grand nephew of former Union minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar.
In Mumbai North constituency, BJP’s Gopal Shetty is racing to victory over Congress’s Urmila Matondkar. In Mumbai North East, BJP’s Manoj Kotak is well ahead of his NCP rival Sanjay Dina Patil.
In Raver, BJP’s Raksha Khadse is leading over her Congress rival Ulhas Patil. In Kolhapur, Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Mandlik has taken a comprehensive lead over sitting NCP MP Dhananjay Mahadik.
Gung ho: Shiv Sena workers smeared with party colours celebrate outside Sena Bhavan in Dadar. Photo credit: Emmanual Yogini
Hard work pays off: Women workers of the Shiv Sena shout victory slogans outside the party office in Dadar. Photo credit: Emmanual Yogini
On cloud nine: Shiv Sena workers celebrate outside Sena Bhavan in Dadar. Photo credit: Emmanual Yogini
Flying high: Shiv Sena workers hoist the party flag after securing an unassailable lead in the Lok Sabha elections, at the party headquarters in Dadar on Thursday. Photo credit: Emmanual Yogini
Riveting: All eyes are glued to a giant screen displaying the election results at CP Tank area in Mumbai on Thursday. Photo credit: Emmanual Yogini
No show: The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee office in Colaba wears deserted look after election results gave a thumping majority to the BJP-led NDA government. Photo credit: Emmanual Yogini
Upbeat: Supporters greet Gopal Shetty, the BJP’s candidate from the Mumbai North constituency. Photo credit: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury
Victory lap: Gopal Shetty, the BJP candidate from Mumbai North constituency, flashes the victory sign outside a counting centre in Goregaon on Thursday. Photo credit: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury
For the long haul: Daily wage workers arrange food for poll officials busy counting votes at the NESCO counting centre in Goregaon on Thursday. Photo credit: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury
Every vote counts: Election officials engaged in counting votes at the NESCO counting centre in Goregaon on Thursday. Photo credit: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury