Bihar, November 14: Counting of votes for the crucial Bihar assembly elections is undersway.

It began at 8am on Friday which will be concluded by the afternoon following various rounds.

As of now, the initial trends indicate that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is marching with giant paces.

Early trends by 9 am showed the NDA leading in 99 seats and the Mahagathbandhan in 69. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also crossed the 50-mark, leading in 55 seats. The postal ballots were counted currently.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, who is the chief ministerial candidate focused by the Mahagathbandhan, is leading in Raghopur assembly. Singer Maithili Thakur, who is making her poll debut on a BJP ticket, is alos leading in Alinagar, said sources.

The results for polling in all 243 assembly seats will decide whether Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar - the state's longest-serving chief minister - will secure a record fifth term or the key of the state governance will be handed over to somebody else.

Besides Tejashwi Yadav, prominent candidates of both alliances include Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD)'s Tej Pratap and Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar.