The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) were in a neck-and-neck race in the March 31 local elections on Sunday, according to preliminary results, Paralel.Az reports citing Daily Sabah.

The CHP was leading the elections across Türkiye, with over 37.66% of the votes, followed by the AK Party at 36.71%, with over 55% of the votes counted.

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Ekrem Imamoglu, incumbent mayor and the candidate from Turkey's main opposition party CHP, was leading in mayoral elections in the country's largest city Istanbul, NTV and other broadcasters said on Sunday based on partial official vote counts, Paralel.Az reports citing NTV.

NTV said Imamoglu had 49.09% with 3.67% of ballot boxes opened. Murat Kurum, the candidate from President Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party, which rules nationally, had 42.83%.