The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led INDIA bloc was leading in 49 of the 81 assembly seats in Jharkhand while the BJP-headed NDA was ahead in 30 as the counting of votes was underway on Saturday, according to trends available on the Election Commission's website.
Counting of votes began at 8 am.
According to the trends, the INDIA bloc was leading in 49, the NDA in 30 and an independent and JLKM in one seat each till 10.50 am.
The results will decide the electoral fate of a total of 1,211 candidates, including Chief Minister Hemant Soren who contested from Barhait, his wife Kalpana from Gandey, former CM and BJP state president Babulal Marandi from Dhanwar and ex-CM Champai Soren from Seraikela.
Other prominent candidates include Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato of the JMM from Nala, Deepika Pandey Singh of Congress from Mahagama, Sita Soren (sister-in-law of CM Hemant Soren) from Jamtara, AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto from Silli.
Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar said the counting is underway amid tight security arrangements and is likely to be completed by 4 pm.
This elections, the voter turnout touched 67.74 per cent, the highest since the formation of Jharkhand on November 15, 2000.
The elections were held in two phases -- November 13 and 20.
Forty-three seats went to polls in the first round and 38 in the second.
