Counting of votes in BMC polls begins

Counting was underway today for polls to 10 civic bodies, including cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and 25 zilla parishads and 283 panchayat samitis across Maharashtra, the results of which are likely to have a bearing on relations between BJP and Shiv Sena.The Congress and NCP are also in fray in the polls, dubbed as the 'mini-general elections'.

The prime focus is on the cash-rich 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation with the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena at the forefront of this battle of might.

Shiv Sena took an early lead in the BMC polls, with its candidates ahead in 36 seats as against



BJP's 24, Congress' 6, NCP 2 and MNS 4.The results after the counting, which began at 10 AM today, will determine the fate of 21,620 candidates for 5,777 seats up for grabs in the 10 municipal corporations, 25 zilla parishads and 283 panchayat samitis for which the elections were held in two phases.

Nearly 56 per cent voters had exercised their right to franchise during the elections to the 10 municipal corporations held on Tuesday. The Mumbai civic body BMC recorded about 55 per cent turn-out.

Besides, 69 per cent of the electorate cast their votes in the zilla parishads and panchayat samitis.