Lok Sabha elections: Maharashtra voters print a photocopy of 2014

The biggest surprise in the state was the defeat of Ashok Chavan, president of the Congress state unit

Despite the exit polls predicting that the Opposition tally in Maharashtra could touch 18, the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alliance won only five of the 48 Lok Sabha seats (till going to press).

The BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP clinched 23, 18 and four seats, respectively, the same figure as that of 2014. Even their vote share may remain nearly the same, with Shiv Sena going two notches up, while Congress losing a percentage point.

This result reinforces the authority of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (48), who steered the campaign in the state, and avoided any loss of seats.