Uttarakhand today witnessed a neck- and-neck fight between BJP and Congress with the ruling party taking an early lead in 29 seats in the 70-member Uttarakhand assembly.
According to early trends with the Election Commission here for 66 seats, Congress was closely following BJP by establishing a lead in 25 seats.
Uttarkhand chief miniter BC Khanduri, who was initially trailing, has taken a lead of 500 votes against SS Negi of Congress in the Kotdwar seat, officials said.
The BJP opened its account from Sitarganj seat in Kumaon region when the first result went to its favour with its candidate Kiran Chand Mandal emerging the winner.
BSP is also leading in 6 seats. Uttarakhand Kranti Dal-Panwar (UKD-P) is ahead in one seat while others were leading in the rest of the five seats.
Congress leader Indira Haridayesh is leading with 4000 votes from Haldwani constituency against Renu Adhikari of BJP. State BJP president Bishan Singh Chufal is leading by 688 votes from Didihaat constituency.