PANAJI: The counting is progressing in five states including Goa, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. In Goa, the BJP is leading in 19 seats when the first results are out. The Congress is just behind with 15 seats.

The Trinamool Congress is in the third place with five seats. The counting of votes in 40 constituencies started from 8 am today. The polls in Goa were held on February 14. There are 300 candidates in 40 assembly constituencies.

In the 2017 assembly elections, the Congress emerged as the largest single party with a victory of 17 seats, but the BJP, which won 13 seats in alliance with the Goa Forward Party, the MGP and two independents, took control. To prevent this from happening again, the Congress had yesterday shifted all the candidates to a luxury resort in Bambolin near Panaji.