"Chavismo' is alive, in the street, and triumphant," Nicolas Maduro said afer the result

Electoral authorities in Venezuela say the Socialist Party has won 17 of 23 state governorships in a crushing victory.

President Nicolas Maduro hailed it as a victory for chavismo, his party's brand of socialism named after former president Hugo Chavez.

But opposition leaders alleged fraud.

The Democratic Union Roundtable coalition has refused to recognise the result and demanded a complete audit, campaign director Gerardo Blyde said.