<b>BMC polls:</b> No clear verdict but BJP makes big gains

Sena has succeeded in retaining its supremacy in the BMC, adding nine seats to its 2012 tally of 75

In a fiercely fought election to the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) — the country’s richest civic body — both the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to reach the magic figure of 114, required for a simple majority.

The Shiv Sena, which diluted its Marathi manoos plank for the first time by reaching out to all sections, won 84 seats, while its former ally the BJP, which raised the issue of transparency, bagged 82 seats, a stunning performance compared to the previous election when it had won only 32.

Technically, the Shiv Sena has