The BJP has secured its biggest victory in Maharashtra Assembly elections with 119 seats in its kitty and leading in three seats as just a handful of results remained to be declared on Sunday evening. It is close to regaining power after a long gap of 15 years, but will have to seek support from like-minded parties for majority. The Shiv Sena has won 63 seats, the Congress 42 and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) of Sharad Pawar 41. The Maharashtra Navanirman Sena of Raj Thackeray was decimated and could garner just one seat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's extensive campaign in the State helped the BJP cross the 100-seat mark, but it is still short of the majority number of 145. The BJP had a 25-year political alliance with Shiv Sena, but just a few days before the Assembly election, both parties broke their ties over seat-sharing arrangement. Given the vitriolic campaign conducted by Shiv Sena where it had openly criticised Modi through its party mouthpiece, it appears BJP will have to work hard to get Sena’s support for forming the government.

Meanwhile, the NCP has announced its unconditional support to the BJP.

Political analyst Nagesh Kesari told BusinessLine that the picture is still not very clear. The reasons for NCP statement are a mystery and the BJP is not saying anything about it. If the BJP fails to get support, then a ‘khichadi’ Government of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress could also be formed, he said.

Member of Parliament and senior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya told reporters the people of Maharashtra have given a mandate in favour of BJP, and therefore, the party will form the new Government in the State. On the possibly of an alliance with Shiv Sena for forming a Government in Maharashtra, Somaiya was non-committal.

Former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan won from the Karad constituency in Western Maharashtra, while senior Congress leader Narayan Ranean lost from Konkan.

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