BJP leading in Uttarakhand

Dehra Dun, Feb 27 (UNI) The BJP appears set to return to power in Uttarakhand with the party leading in over 30 seats, while the Congress trailed behind as counting in the Assembly polls progressed today.

Trends from almost 60 seats were available, with the BJP ahead in 33, the Congress in 14, the BSP and other parties such as the Uttarkhand Kranti Dal (UKD) in the others.

However, the Congress notched up its first victory with its candidate Yashpal Arya, the Speaker in the outgoing Assembly, emerging triumphant in Mukhteshwar, over BJP's Shri Chand. His predecessor in the post, Prakash Pant (BJP), won from Pithoragarh, defeating the Congress' Ravindra Bisht.

Meanwhile, Congress' Vijay Bahuguna was trailing, in Tehri-Garhwal parliamentary constituency, after an initial lead, behind BJP's Manujendra Shah, the son of incumbent MP Manavendra Shah, whose death in January necessitated the bypoll.

Counting of votes started at 0800 hrs today, amid tight security.

Out of a total of 806 candidates for the assembly election, 785 were left in the fray for 69 seats of the 70-member Assembly after the Bajpur Assembly election was deferred due to the death of the Congress candidate.

Though the primary fight is between the Congress and the BJP, smaller parties such as the UKD and the BSP could hold the key to power in case neither of the primary contenders achieves a majority on its own.

Among prominent candidates, Congress' Indira Hridayesh was leading in Haldwani, while BJP's Matbar Singh Kandhari and former CM Bhagat Singh Koshiyari were leading in Rudraprayag and Kapkot respectively.

UNI