New Delhi, 8 Oct

Early trends from counting of votes on Tuesday showed the Congress well ahead of the BJP in Haryana, and leaving the BJP behind in Jammu and Kashmir as well.

According to TV reports, trends available from 78 of the 90 seats in Haryana showed that the Congress was leading on 48 seats -- the majority mark is 45 --while the BJP was ahead on 23. The INLD was leading on three seats, while the AAP is yet to start.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was leading from his Ladwa seta in Kurukshetra district, while Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda was ahead of his rivals in Garhi Sampla-Kiloi constituency in Rohtak district.

BJP leader Anil Vij was leading from his Ambala Cantt seat. Indian National Lok Dal leader Abhay Singh Chautala was ahead from his Ellenabad constituency, according to early trends. Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala's son Aditya Surjewala was leading from Kaithal seat.

Haryana's Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal said three-tier security arrangements were in place at counting venues.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the trends available for 74 of the 90 seats showed, the Congress-National Conference Alliance ahead on 39 seats, while the BJP was leading in 25. The PDP was ahead on six seats and three seats were with 'others'.

Ahead of the commencement of counting of votes in Jammu and Kashmir, BJP state unit president Ravinder Raina performed a 'yagya' Tuesday morning and expressed confidence the party would secure a majority and form a government, potentially with the support of Independents.

The counting of votes in both Haryana and J&K began at 8am. These are early trends and the final results may vary widely.