New Delhi, Jan. 16 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally Shiv Sena were ahead in high-stakes Mumbai municipal corporation elections as per trends in 210 of 227 wards, after counting of votes began Friday morning.

There was no official confirmation from the State Election Commission, but TV channels said the BJP was leading in 92 wards in Mumbai, while Shiv Sena, led by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, was ahead in 26 wards.

Going by the trends, the Mahayuti alliance is poised to cross the majority mark of 114 needed to wrest power in the BMC - the richest muncipal corporation of the country.

The counting of votes began at 10 am. The Thackeray cousins, who reunited after two decades ahead of Thursday's poll, were behind the ruling al...