Counting of votes for India's Lok Sabha elections, following a polling campaign that spanned one and a half months, has begun. The initial trends indicate a lead for the ruling BJP coalition (NDA), while Congress shows a significant increase in its seat count compared to the last two elections.

The elections for 543 Lok Sabha seats, held in seven phases from mid-April to early June, saw approximately 642.2 million voters out of about 1 billion casting their ballots. The BJP-led NDA alliance is ahead in 299 seats as of 10:30 AM IST, while the opposition 'India' coalition, led by Rahul Gandhi, is leading in 205 seats. 

Uttar Pradesh, a crucial state with 80 Lok Sabha seats, has significant influence on the election outcome. In the 2019 elections, the NDA won 62 seats, while the BSP and the Samajwadi Party secured 10 and five seats, respectively. This time, early trends show the BJP alliance leading in 37 seats, with the Congress alliance ahead in 29 seats. 

Rahul Gandhi is leading in Rae Bareli and Wayanad, while BJP candidate Smriti Irani is ahead in Amethi. The Congress ally, Samajwadi Party (SP), leads in 26 seats.

Maharashtra, with 48 seats, is witnessing a tough contest between the NDA and the Bharat Bloc. Early results show the BJP leading in 24 seats, and the NDA ahead in 19. In 2019, the BJP won 23 seats, Shiv Sena (then united) won 18, the NCP secured four seats, and Congress only one.

In West Bengal, early trends show the BJP leading in 20 out of 42 seats, while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is ahead in 15. The Left Front leads in one seat and Congress in two. Notable candidates like BJP's Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato and Trinamool's Saini Ghosh are leading in their respective constituencies.

The NDA is leading in 29 out of 40 seats in Bihar, with the opposition alliance ahead in nine. In 2019, the opposition won only one seat here.

After securing 44 seats in 2014 and 52 seats in 2019, the Congress is projected to cross the 100-seat mark in this election. The Congress-led Bharat Bloc, formed last year to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP, appears to be making significant inroads.

As the counting progresses, the final results will determine the composition of India's next government. While the BJP coalition is currently leading, the increase in Congress seats suggests a more competitive landscape than previous elections. The complete picture will emerge as the counting of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) votes continues.