BJP leaders upbeat

BJP is upbeat about its prospects even though exit polls predicted that Cong-NCP combine would retain power with a slender margin.

The BJP is upbeat about its prospects in Maharashtra even though exit polls on two TV channels predicted that the Congress-NCP combine would retain power with a slender margin. Another channel put the ruling alliance at 20 seats, short of the required majority in the 288-member House.

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Senior BJP leaders said that the feedback from the state unit was that the Sena-BJP combine had done well, barring western Maharashtra which accounted for 75 seats.

They also said that they expected the Mayawati-led BSP to severely affect the Congress-NCP's performance in Vidarbha where 66 seats are at stake.

A BJP functionary said that the Sena-BJP combine could come close to wresting power, needing just the support of 10 to 12 Independents. He said that the BJP expected the problem of rebels in the fray to severely hamper the prospects of the Congress and the NCP.

An exit poll on Star News gave the Congress-NCP combine a slender margin of victory at 149 seats. It gave the BJP-Sena 119 seats. The remaining 20 seats were left for "others" on the basis of "initial" trends.

Aaj Tak gave the ruling alliance 140 to 150 seats and the BJP-Sena 100-110 seats, leaving 30 to 40 seats for others.

But Zee News predicted that the Congress-NCP alliance would bag 125 seats, 20 short of the 145 required for a simple majority. It gave 115 seats to the BJP-Sena alliance with 48 seats marked for others.