A state of shifting loyalties: Who’s with whom in Maharashtra’s civic polls

MUMBAI: As Maharashtra prepares for the announcement of municipal corporation election results tomorrow, the state’s political scene has turned into a maze of changing alliances, tactical collaborations and independent contests.Polling began at 7.30am on Thursday amid tight security arrangements across Mumbai and will continue until 5.30pm. Officials reported that an average of 6.98% of voters had exercised their franchise in the first two hours of polling for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. A BMC spokesperson said the average voter turnout stood at 6.98% till 9.30am. Data released by the civic body showed wide variations in participation across wards.

The highest turnout of 11.57% was recorded in ward number 18 in the western suburbs, while the lowest of 1.68% was reported in ward number 162 in the eastern suburbs.Key alliances: A tangle of parties and partnershipsMumbai

Pune

Thane

Navi Mumbai

Kalyan–Dombivli

Mira–Bhayandar

Vasai–Virar

Ulhasnagar

Bhiwandi

Pimpri–ChinchwadBJP – RPI (Athawale) allianceNCP (Ajit Pawar) – NCP (Sharad Pawar) allianceShiv Sena (UBT) – MNS allianceShiv Sena, Congress, Vanchit – IndependentNagpurBJP – Shiv Sena allianceCongress, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar), NCP (Ajit Pawar), Vanchit – IndependentAmravatiCongress-led frontShiv Sena (UBT) – MNS allianceShiv Sena-Prahaar allianceNCP (Sharad Pawar), Communist Party allianceVanchit – United Forum allianceAkolaBJP – NCP (Ajit Pawar) allianceCongress – NCP (Sharad Pawar)Shiv Sena (UBT) – MNSShiv Sena – IndependentVanchit, AIMIM, AAP – IndependentChandrapurBJP – Shiv Sena allianceShiv Sena (UBT) – Vanchit allianceCongress, NCP (Ajit Pawar), NCP (Sharad Pawar), BSP, AAP – IndependentChhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Nanded

Latur

Parbhani

JalnaNCP (Ajit Pawar) – MNS allianceCongress- Shiv Sena (UBT)- NCP (SP) allianceShiv Sena – IndependentBJP- IndependentNashik

Jalgaon

Dhule

MalegaonBJP, Shiv Sena, Congress, NCP (Ajit Pawar)NCP (Sharad Pawar), AIMIM, Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra Party (Islam) – All IndependentKolhapur

Solapur

Sangli–Miraj–Kupwad

Ichalkaranji