The BJP leads in Uttar Pradesh, the AAP in Punjab, and there are close races in Goa and Uttarakhand.

The counting of votes is underway in 690 assembly constituencies in five states: Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, After an hour of counting, there are some patterns emerging from the postal ballots. According to early indications, the BJP has a commanding lead in Uttar Pradesh, with the Samajwadi Party in second place. Despite Akhilesh Yadav’s roadshows, the SP may not be able to make major gains in what appears to be a bipolar race, while the Congress and BSP may lose ground. Punjab and Uttarakhand are close contests, with the Congress behind the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab and the BJP trailing in Uttarakhand. Health warning: the leads settle down after a few hours of counting, and early leads haven’t always been excellent predictors of the ultimate outcomes.