Chhattisgarh polls: Congress seizes lead; Raman Singh, Jogi trailing

At 9.30am, 90 minutes after counting started in the assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, the Congress was leading in 54 seats in the 90-member assembly. The BJP, which has ruled the state since 2003, was ahead in 30 seats.

Chief Minister Raman Singh, ruling the state since 2003, was trailing in his constituency of Rajnandgaon against Karuna Shukla, the niece of former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Shukla, a former BJP member, is contesting on a Congress ticket.

Bhupesh Baghel, the state Congress chief, is leading from Patan constituency. Baghel is considered a front-runner for the chief minister's post. Ajit Jogi, who is leading a 'third front' with the BSP, was trailing from his constituency of Marwahi.

T.S. Singh Deo, Congress MLA and another chief minister candidate, was leading from Ambikapur. Jogi's daughter-in-law, Richa, who was contesting on a BSP ticket, was trailing in Akaltara.