Dehradun:
Counting of votes for Uttarakhand assembly seats is on amid tight security. Trends available for all the 70 assembly seats show the Congress leading in 32 seats; the incumbent BJP is leading on 24 seats.
Most exit polls had predicted the Congress returning to power with 30-35 seats.
Among the prominent candidates, Chief Minister B C Khanduri was trailing by 90 votes in the Kotdwar constituency.
A total of 16 centres across 13 districts have been set up for counting of votes for the 70 assembly constituencies, according to poll officials.
In Uttarakhand, polling was held on January 30.
The elections would decide the fate of Chief Minister B C Khanduri who is locked in a tussle against Surendra Singh Negi from Kotdwar seat. Besides Mr Khanduri, former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and several ministers are also facing stiff competition in different constituencies.
The outcome in Rudraprayag constituency in Garhwal region is being watched with considerable interest as the Leader of the Opposition, Harak Singh Rawat, is pitted against his brother-in-law and Irrigation Minister Matbar Singh Kandari there. Mr Rawat is being seen as a hot contender for the post of chief minister if Congress returns to power.
Other key constituencies are Doiwala seat where Mr Nishank is facing a stiff challenge from Hira Singh Bist of Congress and S P Singh, a Congress rebel candidate.
Another interesting contest is at Devprayag where Revenue Minister Diwakar Bhatt is locked in a triangular contest against Shurvir Singh Sajwan and Mantri Prasad Naithani, a Congress rebel candidate.
The Gangotri seat would decide the fate of two friends-turned-political rivals - Gopal Singh Rawat, the sitting BJP MLA, and Vijaypal Singh Sajwan of Congress, who had won in 2002.