The ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance on Thursday looked on course to retaining power in Maharashtra
as per early trends of counting of votes available so far. Of the trends in 81 of 288 Assembly seats available so far, BJP is leading in 26, Shiv Sena in 22, while opposition Congress is ahead in seven seats and NCP in 17.

The Sharad Pawar led party appeared to have fared better than its parent party and was seen performing well in Western Maharashtra. The Independents were ahead in four seats. BJP candidate Udayanraje Bhosale is trailing behind NCP nominee Shriniwas Patil by 1,089 votes in Satara Lok Sabha seat bypoll after the first round of counting. Shiv Sena's Aaditya Thackeray has established a
comfortable lead in Worli assembly constituency where he is making his electoral debut.