Mumbai: The ruling Congress-NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) combine was today (Oct 16, 2004) poised to retaining power in Maharashtra dashing hopes of a BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-Shiv Sena comeback, winning 107 seats and leading in 35 others in the 288-member Assembly.

The saffron combine won 78 seats and was leading in 37 constituencies.

With even the winning combine likely to fall short of the half-way mark of 145, the independents and rebels, who are likely to play a key role in Government formation have won 24 seats and are ahead in seven.

The BJP has virtually conceded defeat, while the Congress and NCP leader Sharad Pawar made it clear that it will be a Congress Chief Minister who will be chosen from among the elected MLAs.

Indications are that incumbent Sushilkumar Shinde is among the frontrunners for the top post.

While Congress alone has won 52 seats and was leading in 18, NCP has bagged 55 seat and was ahead in 16. Alliance partner RPI(A) was leading in one.

In the Opposition front Shiv Sena has won 42 seats so far and was leading in 19 others, while BJP has bagged 35 and was ahead in 18. Alliance partner STBP has won one seat.