Cong-NCP on way to retain power in Maharashtra

Solid show by Sharad Pawar-led NCP .

The Congress-NCP alliance is all set to retain power in Maharashtra by winning 139 seats.

The combine now needs the support of only six MLAs to cross the magic figure of 145-seats in the 288-member assembly.

While the Congress won 67 seats, the NCP won 71 seats and the RPI (A) won a seat.

The opposition Shiv Sena-BJP alliance could win only 119 seats. While the Shiv Sena won 62 seats, BJP won 56 seats.

Heavyweight winners for the Congress-NCP alliance include Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, home minister Kripa Shankar Singh, ex-Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and ex-deputy Chief Minister Chaggan Bhujbal.

Leading winners for the SS-BJP combine were Gopinath Munde, Narayan Rane and Bala Nadgaonkar.