EVMs in 151 seats to decide fate of parties and stalwarts

PUNE: By Sunday afternoon, the outcome of the counting in 151 seats in three regions of the state, Western and North Maharashtra and Marathwada, would have decided the fate of the key players in the state and made clear the next government's formation.
The stakes are high for the NCP in western Maharashtra comprising 58 seats, and its leader Sharad Pawar, who draws strength from the sugar belt to control the state's politics.The NCP is banking on a division of votes between the BJP and the Sena. NCP stalwarts like Ajit Pawar, R R Patil, Dilip Walse-Patil, Jayant Patil are in fray from this region.
Though Pawar was able to resist to some extent the 'Modi wave' in the Lok Sabha polls and win four seats in the region, the BJP-Sena and its alliance partner Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana that won six seats gave the party the jitters. After the split, the BJP and Sena are looking for gains with assistance from rebel NCP and Congress leaders.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned vigourously for his party's candidates
. The BJP, hoping to make inroads, would like to win more seats. The Congress is on a sticky wicket. Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan's political future hinges on his own and his party's performance in the region.
Drought-prone Marathwada region with 46 seats is crucial for the Congress and the Shiv Sena. Both parties have banked on their traditional pockets while the BJP and the NCP are looking at maintaining their tallies.
The vote share of Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena would be decisive in some constituencies. The results in Marathwada will be vital for former chief minister Ashok Chavan. He faces an uphill task of retaining 18 seats against a 'Modi wave'.
Congress stalwart Rajendra Darda, Ashok Chavan's wife Amita, BJP leader Pankaja Munde are in key contests in the region. Pankaja has to prove her mettle in Parali and in Beed Lok Sabha constituency where her younger sister Pritam is contesting a bypoll after their father Gopinath Munde's death.
In North Maharashtra, the BJP is looking for a windfall even as the NCP under senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal is scrambling to retain the 13 seats it won in 2009. The BJP won six assembly seats of the total 47 in the region, while the Shiv Sena bagged 10.
Here, BJP managed to rope in Baban Pachpute and Vijaykumar Gavit who were with the NCP. The BJP stands on strong ground as it had won seven of the eight parliamentary seats in the region in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
BOX reworked
Results in 2009
Western Maharashtra - 58 seats
Party seats vote-share
Congress 11 18.2
NCP 20 22.8
Shiv Sena 6 12.9
BJP 10 9.2
*MNS 0 -
Others 11 33.4
* MNS MLA Ramesh Wanjale died and BJP won bypoll in Khadakwasla assembly constituency in Pune district.
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North Maharashra - 47 seats
Party seats vote-share
Congress 9 15.0
NCP 13 22.3
Shiv Sena 10 20.8
BJP 6 13.7
MNS 3 4.1
Others 6 24.1
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Marathwada - 46 seats
Party seats vote-share
Congress 18 22.5
NCP 12 19.1
Shiv Sena 7 17.3
BJP 2 14.8
MNS 1 2.4
Others 6 23.9
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