Maharashtra: Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Supriya Sule leading

Mumbai: Early trends of counting of votes for Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra indicate Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Piyush Goyal, and Supriya Sule, daughter of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, are leading from their constituencies.

Counting of votes in the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state began at 8 am and counting of postal ballots was taken up first, the official said.

Gadkari, who is contesting his third Lok Sabha polls from Nagpur, has taken a lead over Congress candidate Vikas Thakre, an election official said.

Goyal contested his maiden Lok Sabha election from Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat against Congress candidate Bhushan Patil.

In Baramati seat, Supriya Sule has taken a lead over her sister in law Sunetra Pawar, the wife of Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.