Congress was ahead, with the BJP running a close second in the Manipur assembly polls, as counting of votes progressed on Saturday.
Out of 39 constituencies for which trends were available, the Congress was leading in 17, and the BJP in 14, while the Left was leading in four.
In the prestigious Thoubal constituency, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh defeated his nearest BJP rival Leitanthem Basanta Singh. Social activist Irom Sharmila lost with fewer than 100 votes.
Thirty companies of central forces have been deployed to guard the counting centres.
The Election Commission officials are monitoring the counting online with CCTV facilities.
--IANS
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