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VICTORIA — B.C.’s election campaign officially kicks off April 11, but political parties have already zeroed in on key battlegrounds in which the toughest races will be fought.

There are 87 total ridings up for grabs on May 9, an increase of two from the last election.

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Some, like Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, are NDP strongholds unlikely to change. Others, like West Vancouver-Capilano, are Liberal fortresses unlikely to fall in all but the most tumultuous shift of voter allegiances.

For the NDP, the magic number on the road to victory is to win 10 additional seats. That would increase the party’s share from 35 ridings to the 45 required to form a majority government (including setting one normally non-voting person aside to be Speaker of the new legislature).

For the Liberals, who have 48 seats (counting former Liberal Pat Pimm’s Peace River North riding), it means the party could lose three ridings and still hold its majority.