Sunday, February 27 2005 09:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ranchi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP+) candidates registered gains in 34 seats, Congress behind with 25 seats and others candidates leading with 22 of the 81 seats in Jharkhand, counting for which began at 08:00 hrs (IST) today (Feb 27, 2005).

Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda (BJP) is leading by over 2590 votes against his nearest rival Khunti Soy (INC) at the end of the first round.

Prominent candidates in Jharkhand include Chief Minister Arjun Munda from Kharsawan, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) president Inder Singh Namdhari from Daltonganj, former Union Coal Minister Karia Munda from Khijri, State Finance Minister Mrigendra Pratap Singh from Jameshedpur-West and former Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Thomas Hansda from Rajmahal.

BJP President Raghuvar Das from Jamshedpur-East and rebel Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate Stephen Marandi from Dumka are also trying their political luck.