MNS makes dents in Maharashtra

Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) appeared to have made dents in the bastion of established parties in early trends from the Maharashtra assembly elections on Thursday.

Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) appeared to have made dents in the bastion of established parties in early trends from the Maharashtra assembly elections on Thursday.

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At 10 am, MNS was leading in at least 14 constituencies, including two in Mumbai, as the first round of counting ended. The party's heavyweight Bala Nandgaonkar was leading in Sewri constituency in central Mumbai and in Murbadn (Thane) Waman Mhatre was leading.

The party is contesting 125 of the 288 assembly seats that went to the polls on Oct 13.

The Opposition Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party combine was leading in 89 constituencies while the ruling Congress-Nationalist Congress Party were leading in 126 seats.

The rest, including MNS, were leading in around 45 seats - a significant chunk that could influence formation of the next government.