Early trends indicated that the Congress was headed for a majority in Rajasthan, taking the lead in 89 seats while the ruling BJP is ahead in 62 constituencies, with 12 of its ministers trailing behind their rivals.

State home minister Gulab Chand Kataria and transport minister Yoonus Khan are among those trailing after the initial rounds of counting, according to the state election commission's website.

Independents are leading in 10 seats and candidates of other parties are ahead in five seats. The BSP is leading in one seat, and the CPI (M) in two.

Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot credited Rahul Gandhi for the party's good performance in all the five states, including Rajasthan. He said the Congress president had raised key issues concerning the people because of which Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'graph came down'.

People have blessed us. We should get a comfortable majority in Rajasthan.

Sachin Pilot

Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot said the Congress is marching towards victory in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and the trend would continue in the future in the rest of India.

'People have blessed us. We should get a comfortable majority in Rajasthan,' Pilot told reporters.

Asked who will be the chief minister, Pilot said Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and the party's MLAs will decide that.

Pilot recalled that exactly a year ago, Rahul had become the president of the party. 'What could be a better gift to him than victory in these states?' he said.