Friday saw the surge of pre-election campaigning in the city before the state sets out on vote on Monday in a single-phase election. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Mumbai to spearhead a rally and was joined by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray and RPI leader Ramdas Athawale.

Later that night, Fadnavis met journalists at a BKC hotel for an informal chat. He expressed confidence that the Shiv Sena would win 80 seats in the 288-member legislative assembly, and that the BJP-Sena alliance would paint the entire state saffron. When a reporter at the table informed him that the highest seats ever won by a party was back in 1972 when the Indian National Congress bagged 222 seats, an amused Fadnavis said, "Todna padega isko Looks like we-ll have to break this. This is why I always say that we will get a two-third majority. Isse hum safe zone mein rehte hain laughs."