Belying predictions, the ruling BJP on Tuesday bagged 18 seats taking a narrow 3 seat lead against Congress as the two parties were locked in an intense see-saw battle in the Uttarakhand assembly polls.

However, Chief Minister B C Khanduri was trailing by 3,800 votes against S S Negi of Congress from Kotdwar seat in the last round of counting.

BJP bagged seats from Sitarganj, Nanakmatta and other places while Congress has so far won 15 seats from Haldwani and Almora constituencies.

The early trends available in the rest of the seats said that the BJP had a narrow lead against Congress.

The BJP opened its account from Sitarganj seat in Kumaon region when the first result went in its favour after its candidate Kiran Chand Mandal bagged the seat.

BSP has won two seats and was leading in two others.

Uttarakhand Kranti Dal-Panwar (UKD-P) was leading in one seat while others were ahead in the rest of the five seats.