Please Help: Maharashtra VAT

One of my client is works contractor he started his new partnership business in Nov 2012 and he chose to get registrered under VAT after crossing turnover. he crossed turnover in Feb 2013, we applied within time and got the number but till the date of application his turnover of purchases crossed around 40 lakhs as he used that material in work is process. my query is that - can he claim set off of all purchases? his application is within time but the purchases are when he was not registered as was not eligible to register.