India, May 4 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to retain power in Assam, with the party leading in 97 seats as counting of votes for the Assembly elections continues across the state on Monday.

Its closest rival, the Congress, is trailing significantly with leads in just 27 constituencies, according to the latest trends. The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) is ahead in two seats so far.

Vote counting is underway at 40 centres across 35 districts, under tight security arrangements.

Assam recorded a high voter turnout of 85.96 per cent in the single-phase polling held on April 9. Nearly 2.5 crore voters exercised their franchise to decide the fate of 722 candidates contesting for the 126 Assembly seats.

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