MUMBAI : Defying anti-incumbency and an indifferent record of governance, the ruling Congress Party-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) combine returned to power in Maharashtra last week, convincingly beating back a spirited challenge by the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance.

The Congress-NCP alliance won 141 seats in the 288-member Assembly and was also assured of the support of three legislators of the Communist Party of India-Marxist. This would give the alliance 144 seats, just one short of the majority mark of 145.

The opposition Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine won 117, a result that stunned the combine, especially the ailing chief of the faction-ridden Shiv Sena, Bal Thackeray, who accused minorities and non-Maharashtrians for voting against the “pro-Hindu” and “pro-Marathi” parties.

The victory brought cheer to Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde of the Congress Party, who has been at the helm of India’s richest state for about two years now. But not for long.

Despite contesting fewer seats, the NCP has returned 71 legislators, compared to 69 of the Congress (one of whom died a day after the results were declared, further depleting the number). This, according to NCP supremo and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, meant that the chief ministership should go to his party, and not to the Congress Party.

Senior leaders of both parties were in deadlocked talks to resolve the issue even a week after the results were declared. A fresh round of talks were scheduled for Oct. 23 at which the tangle over the chief ministership was expected to be resolved. Till then, Shinde continues as a caretaker chief minister.