- BJP and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena will win big in Mumbai civic polls, predict exit polls
- Reunited Thackeray factions may secure Maratha and Muslim votes, per exit surveys
- North and South Indian voters, youth, and women reportedly favor BJP in these elections
The BJP and the Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena will win big in the elections for the prestigious Mumbai civic body -- the Brihanmumbai Corporation -- four exit polls have indicated. The reunited Thackerays will apparently scoop up the Maratha and the Muslim votes. The north and south Indians, however, have voted overwhelmingly for the BJP, exit polls have predicted.
As is almost the norm, young voters and the women have sided with the BJP too.
Exit polls though, don't always get it right.
The elections for the Brihanmumbai Corporation, the richest in Asia with a budget equal to a small state, was held last in 2017, when the united Shiv Sena - which had been controlling it for decades, retained its grip.
Eight years and a split in Sena, it appears, could bring about a sea change in the politics over the august body.
If the exit polls got it right, it would be the BJP that has stepped into the vacuum, and the Thackeray brothers Uddhav and Raj -- who reunited after 20 years to reclaim the power and prestige of the undivided Sena and their heritage as heirs of Bal Thackeray, have squandered the chance.
The Axis My India as well as the JVC have predicted a sweeping victory for the BJP and Shiv Sena. In the 227-ward civic body, the majority mark is 114.
The JVC has predicted 138 seats for the BJP and 59 for Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena or UBT and Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. The Congress, it predicted, will get 23 seats.
The Axis My India polls are expecting the BJP and Sena to get 131-151 seats, and the Sena UBT-plus to get 58-68 seats.
The Sakal Poll is predicting 119 seats for the BJP and Sena, and UBT 75. The Congress, it predicted, will get no more than 20 seats.
The fourth exit poll, Janmat, predicted 138 seats for the Sena-BJP and 62 for the opposition alliance led by Uddhav and Raj Thackeray. The Cpomgress, it said, will get 20 seats.
According to the Axis My India exit poll, the BJP is expected to receive 68 per cent of North Indian votes, while the Shiv Sena may receive 19 per cent. The Congress may receive only 2 per cent.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS is expected to receive 49 per cent of the Maratha vote, while the BJP is projected to receive 30 per cent, the Congress, may have to settle for 8 per cent.
The Congress will maintain its strong hold on minority votes, exit polls predicted.
Around 41 per cent Muslim votes are projected to go to Congress while Uddhav's Shiv Sena is second with 28 per cent.
There is also a close contest between Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) among Christian voters, where both are projected to receive 29 per cent of the vote.
Elections were also held today in 28 other civic bodies in Maharashtra, all pending since 2017. The counting of votes will be held tomorrow.
