However, incumbent Chief Minster Ashok Chavan said the Congress-NCP alliance will be looking at the Republican Party of India for possible outside support if it fell short of the majority mark.
Raj Thackeray's MNS has emerged as the surprise package with victories or leads in 17 seats, way beyond the 8-10
seats even party insiders had forecast.
The MNS opened its account with the victory of two of its nominees: from Vikhroli, Mangesh Sangle defeated NCP's Pallavi Patil, wife of Lok Sabha member Sanjay Patil and Shiv Sena's Datta Dalvi; also, MNS nominee Ramesh Wanjale got elected from Khadakvasla.
