Wednesday,
February 13, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Sena-BJP emerge triumphant
Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray gestures during a news conference in
Mumbai on Monday.
— Reuters photo
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Mumbai, February 12
Using to the hilt the emotive terrorism and national security issue and a split in anti-saffron votes, the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance today triumphed in the civic poll in Maharashtra and appeared set to rule five municipal corporations. Reflecting the saffron surge across the state, the Sena-BJP alliance bagged 432 seats compared to 239 and 159 by the Congress and the NCP respectively. The alliance retained their traditional strongholds of Mumbai and adjoining Thane civic body and wrested Nasik and Akola from the Congress. The saffron allies made deep inroads into several Congress-bastions, including Amravati and Solapur. Out of 10 corporations, counting was not taken up in Pune where the second stage of polling is slated for March 3.
PTI
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