Neck and neck fight in Mah

BJP-SHS and the INC-NCP combines are leading in 15 seats each of the 32 constituencies in the initial trends available in Maharashtra.

Others are leading in two constituencies.

Prominent among the NDA candidates leading are speaker of the dissolved Lok Sabha Manohar Joshi (SHS) from Mumbai North Central, NCP chief Sharad Pawar from Baramati and filmstar Sunil Dutt in North West Mumbai.

Bollywood actor Govinda (INC) is leading by nearly 1,000 votes over Union Minister Ram Naik (BJP) at North Mumbai.

The positions are: SHS-8, BJP-7, INC-9, NCP-6 and others-2.