The Shiv Sena-BJP-RPI alliance came up trumps in Mumbai and Thane municipal corporation elections, results of which were announced here on Friday.
Though the alliance fell short of the magic figures in both the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), it is widely expected to retain power in both civic bodies with the help of rebels and Independents.
The need to beg for the support of Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) may not immediately arise, though Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray recently expressed willingness to ally with his estranged nephew if the situation so warranted.
Incidentally, the MNS performed better than expected, especially in Mumbai, Pune and Nashik, living up to its image of being a potential 'king-maker'.
As per the latest figures available (till 4 p.m.), in Mumbai the newly-cobbled Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party-Republican Party of India combine bagged a total of 107 seats. It was followed by the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party coalition at a distant second position with 65 seats. The MNS grabbed 29 seats, and Independents and others 26 of the total 227 seats.
In Thane, the SS-BJP-RPI combine won 62 seats, followed by Congress-NCP with 52 seats, and the MNS 7. Independents and others bagged 9 seats.
In Akola, the Congress-NCP coalition got 23, the SS-BJP-RPI combine 26, the MNS one, and Independents and others 23 in the 73-member house.
In Amravati, the Congress-NCP coalition won a comfortable 43, the SS-BJP-RPI combine bagged 19, and Independents and others secured 25 seats in the 87-strong house.
On the other hand, Pimpri-Chinchwad gave a reason to smile for the NCP which bagged 83 seats, while the Congress got 14, the SS-BJP-RPI a mere 18, the MNS 4, and Independents and others 9 seats, in the 128-strong house.
Given the low - 54 percent - average state turnout at the polls on Thursday, a beaming Raj Thackeray, while demanding strict action against those who do not exercise their franchise, promised to revamp his party organisation in Thane where the MNS fared below expectations.
The counting of votes is still in progress in five other major civic corporations where elections were held and the results are expected later Friday evening.