Anti-incumbency seems to cast its shadow over the state assembly elections as well, judging by the leads available Thursday morning.

In Karnataka, ruled by the Congress party, out of the trends available from 120 of the 224 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party was ahead in 47 seats, while the Congress was ahead in 36. Others, including the Janata Dal-Secular etc, were ahead in 37 seats.

BJP candidates were ahead in Mangalore, Bantwal, Puttur, Madikeri, Sulya, Virajpet, Udupi, Kaup, Maddur,
Nargund and Navalgund assembly constituencies.

JD-S nominees were leading in Srirangapatna, K R Pet, Mandya, Gundlupet and T. Narasipura, while Congress was ahead in Somwarpet, Vitla and Haliyal constituencies.

The JD-United, which has a seat-sharing pact with the BJP, was leading in Kiragavalu assembly constituency.

In Orissa, where Chief Minister Biju Patnaik was expected to run away with the results, the Congress has put up a good show, leading in 26 of the trends available from 72 assembly constituencies. The Biju Janata Dal was ahead in 38.

In Deogarh, Nitesh Ganga Deb of the Congress was leading over the BJP's Subhas Chandra Panigrahi by 63 votes when trends last came in.

Trends from Sikkim were yet to come in.