Chandigarh: The ruling Congress on Tuesday won Punjab's cash-rich Ludhiana Municipal Corporation polls with an absolute majority by winning 62 out of 95 wards.

The Shiromani Akali Dal won 11 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party got 10 seats. The Lok Insaaf Party won seven seats and its ally Aam Aadmi Party got just one seat. Independent candidates won four wards.

Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party leaders had accused the ruling Congress of malpractices in the municipal elections.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh hailed the civic body results, saying they were a clear vindication of the government's policies in the past one year.

The Congress, which has been at the helm in Punjab since March 2017, had earlier won the municipal corporation elections of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala in December. It had also emerged victorious in 20 out of 29 Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats.

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Mumbai: With counting still underway for Maharashtra's 288 Assembly constituencies, early trends show the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is heading for a landslide victory. Meanwhile, speculation is intensifying over who will lead the state government.

The BJP’s seat tally is projected to rise significantly from 105 in 2019 to around 125, commanding its role as the dominant member in the alliance, with a staggering strike rate of 84%.

BJP spokesperson Pravin Darekar expressed that Devendra Fadnavis, a two-term Chief Minister, might reclaim the top post, describing the results as “overwhelming.” However, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sheetal Mhatare argued for continuity, advocating for current Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to retain the role.

BJP leader Keshav Upadhaye emphasized that the election outcome reflects the people's vote for development, but he noted that many party workers favor Fadnavis as the Chief Minister.

Adding to the drama, NCP leader Ajit Pawar, a Deputy Chief Minister in the current government, has also emerged as a potential contender. His wife, Sunetra Pawar, publicly expressed her desire to see him as Maharashtra's Chief Minister, further fueling discussions within the coalition.