Cong-NCP alliance yields results; Sena-BJP down
Cong-NCP alliance in M'rashtra has improved its position with the addition of six more seats while Sena-BJP saffron alliance tally came down to 25 from 28 secured last time.
The decision of Congress and NCP to forge a pre-poll alliance in Maharashtra on Thursday paid dividend, with the alliance partners not only succeeding in retaining its tally, but also adding six more seats to its kitty.
The Congress-NCP alliance improved its position from 16 seats in 1999 to 22 this time, while the Sena-BJP saffron alliance tally came down to 25 from 28 secured last time.
While the BJP's tally remained static at 13, the Shiv Sena figure came down to 12 from 15 earlier.
Although the saffron alliance lost just three seats in its earlier tally, it suffered major losses in Mumbai, where the speaker of dissolved Lok Sabha and Sena candidate Manohar Joshi, and two Union ministers namely Ram Naik and Jaywantiben Mehta lost.
Naik, who has been representing north Mumbai constituency for five time in succession, could not hold ground to the political greenhorn and bollywood star, Govinda.
Another BJP stalwart, Jaywantiben Mehta also lost to a newcomer, Milind Deora, in a keen contest.
Of the six Mumbai seats, Congress wrested four from the saffron brigade at the cost of three BJP and one Sena seat.
Other prominent Congress leaders who tasted defeat were Shivraj Patil Chakurkar (Latur), Prabha Rau (Wardha) and five-time MP Uttamrao Patil (Yavatmal), while senior NCP leader Praful Patel also lost from Bhandara.
The party also faced humiliation when Ujwala Shinde, wife of chief minister Sushilkumar Shinde lost although a battery of senior NCP and Congress leaders were pressed to ensure her victory.