According to trends and results available, the Congress party won the Baithalangsu seat from the eastern Karbi Anglong district by a margin of just 16 votes, while the party was leading in 35 of the 126 constituencies. .

The Hagrama Mohilary faction of the Bodo People''s Progressive Front (BPPF-H), an ally of the Congress, was leading in two constituencies. .

The AGP was leading in 22 with its alliance partner, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) ahead in three constituencies. Two more alliance partners of the AGP belonging to smaller regional parties were also ahead. .

"I am happy at the way the trends are coming and it appears we might be able to form the government in Assam once again," Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told IANS. .

Ironically, among the notable candidates trailing so far were AGP president Brindaban Goswami in Barchalla in northern Assam. Assam Congress party president Bhubaneswar Kalita was also lagging behind his rival in Rangiya. .

Goswami, who has contested two seats, was however leading in Tezpur in northern Assam. .

Kalita has projected himself as an aspirant for the chief ministerial post sparking off an open revolt in the ruling party camp. .

Counting of votes got under way at 8 a.m. in 48 counting centres spread across 27 district headquarters. .

The fate of 997 candidates is being decided with an estimated 75.72 percent of the nearly 17.43 million voters having exercised their franchise in last month''s elections. .

The Congress and the AGP are the two major players with the newly formed Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF), a Muslim-based party, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) being the other important players. .

Both the BJP and the AUDF were leading in seven seats each. .