As counting goes on in Goa, early numbers indicate that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading in the state in 20 assembly constituencies, while Congress is leading in 19 seats. Further, Trinamool Congress (TMC) holds lead in five seats.

Exit polls had predicted a hung house scenario in the state with parties preparing for post-polls. The counting of votes for the 40 constituency state began at 8 am on Thursday, polling for which took place on February 14 in a single phase.

More than 300 candidates were in the fray for the 40 constituencies in Goa which saw a multi-cornered battle with BJP, Congress, TMC and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) contesting.

Congress had emerged as the single largest party in 2017 but having won 13 seats, BJP formed the government with the support of the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), and two independent candidates.

Sitting Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant travelled to Delhi on Tuesday to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Congress meanwhile, in a bid to avoid repeating the 2017 scenario, had senior leader P Chidambaram meeting with Goa assembly poll candidates and those of ally GFP on Wednesday night. Apart from that, Congress said that talks were underway with AAP for gaining support in forming government if there was a hung assembly.

In the 40 seat state where 21 is the majority, BJP is leading in 18 seats, early numbers from the Election Commission of India (ECI) showed.

Early trends also showed Congress trailing behind with leads in 10 seats while MGP leads in 4, AAP in 2 and GFP in 1 seat. TMC are yet to begin their account in the state, ECI data showed.