Ranchi, December 23: BJP and its ally JD(U) were today leading in 18 seats, while the Congress-JVM(P) alliance was ahead in eight seats at the end of the first round of counting for the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly.
The BJP was leading in seats like Ranchi, Dumka, Pakur, Simdega, Kolibera, Khijri, Kanke, Majhgao and Shikaripara.
The JMM, which contested the polls on its own, was leading in three seats.
Independent candidate Geeta Koda, the wife of former chief minister Madhu Koda was leading over her rivals in the Jagganthpur seat.
Former minister and Jharkhand Party candidate Enos Ekka was leading from Kolibera.
Prominent candidates trailing were former deputy chief minister Stephen Marandi of Congress and JMM’s Hemant Soren in Dumka, where the BJP’s Lois Marandi was leading.
Assembly Speaker and Congress candidate Alamgir Alam was also trailing from Pakur.
–PTI