The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra looks set for an impressive performance, leading in 30 of the total 48 seats as per early trends. (File photo)
The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra looks set for an impressive performance, leading in 30 of the total 48 seats as per early trends.
BJP candidates were leading in 17, Sena nominees in 13 seats. The notable BJP candidates leading included former party president Nitin Gadkari from Nagpur and the party's deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde, who is attempting to retain his Beed seat in Marathwada.
Prominent among those trailing were Union minister Sushilkumar Shinde from Solapur, Chhagan Bhujbal from Nashik and Congress minister Narayan Rane's son Nilesh Rane, who is trying to retain the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg seat in coastal Konkan.
Late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan's daughter Poonam Mahajan was leading by more than 10,000 from Mumbai North Central over Congress candidate Priya Dutt, who is sitting MP from that seat.
In Baramati, after initial setback, NCP's Supriya Sule established a lead by 15,000 votes. In North Maharashtra, BJP was leading by 3,854 votes in Dhule and by 25,000 votes in Dindori.
In Amravati, Shiv Sena was leading by 5,831 votes. In Maval, Laxman Jagtap of PWP was leading.
In Mumbai South Central, Shiv Sena's Rahul Shewale was leading over sitting Congress MP Eknath Gaikwad.
In Bhiwandi, BJP was leading by 19,902 votes, in Kalyan, Shiv sena had established a lead while in Thane, Shiv Sena's Rajan Vichare was leading with 19,438 votes.