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Vote counting starts in crucial India state polls India's BJP leads in Assam elections
(about 3 hours later)
Votes are being counted in four Indian states, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP party is trying to gain a foothold. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP party is leading in India's north-eastern state of Assam for the first time, early trends suggest.
The BJP is ahead in 50 of the 126 seats, while the Congress is leading in 26 seats, according to India's Election Commission.
Assembly elections were held in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Assam in April and May. Voting was also held in the union territory of Pondicherry.Assembly elections were held in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Assam in April and May. Voting was also held in the union territory of Pondicherry.
Exit polls suggest the BJP could win in north-eastern Assam for the first time. Vote-counting began on Thursday.
But the Hindu nationalist party is expected to trail regional parties in the three other states. While early trends available with India's Election Commission point to a clear lead for the BJP in Assam, the Hindu nationalist party is trailing regional parties in the three other states.
Opinion and exit polls have often proven to be unreliable in India. Surveys are often conducted with sample sizes ranging from a few hundred to several thousand voters. In the eastern state of West Bengal, the regional Trinamool Congress party led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is poised for a second term in power.
Counting of votes began at 08:00 India time (02:30 GMT) on Thursday, and firm trends are expected to emerge by mid-day. Her party is leading in 211 of the 294 seats, while a rival alliance of the Congress and left parties is ahead in 71 seats.
In the eastern state of West Bengal, the BJP is seen as having little chance against the regional Trinamool Congress party, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In southern Tamil Nadu, the regional AIADMK has secured a lead in 134 of the 234 seats, while its nearest rival DMK is leading in 73 seats.
In Tamil Nadu, the regional AIADMK and DMK parties are locked in a fierce contest. In Kerala, which has been traditionally ruled by either Congress-led governments or a coalition of left-wing parties, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is leading in 48 of the 140 seats, while the ruling Congress is ahead in 24 seats.
The BJP is trying to secure a toehold in Kerala which has been traditionally ruled by either Congress-led governments or a coalition of left-wing parties. In Assam, Mr Modi's party stands a clear chance of winning, correspondents say.
However, in Assam, Mr Modi's party stands a chance of winning, correspondents say.
Ethnically diverse and prone to conflicts, Assam has been ruled by the Congress since 2001.Ethnically diverse and prone to conflicts, Assam has been ruled by the Congress since 2001.
The BJP has tied up with local parties that support rights of local tribes-people and are opposed to illegal migration to take on the ruling party. The BJP had tied up with local parties that support rights of local tribes-people and are opposed to illegal migration to take on the ruling party.