Congress headed for victory in Karnataka polls as party leads in over 130 seats

Congress is on its way to scoring an emphatic victory in the Karnataka polls, winning three seats in which the counting has been completed and gaining the lead in 129 others.

The BJP is leading in 66 seats and Janata Dal-Secular in 22, according to the latest trends from Election Commission. Independents are ahead in two constituencies and Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha and Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha on one each.

In terms of vote share, Congress got 43 per cent, BJP 36 per cent and JD(S) 13.2 per cent in the 224-seat assembly elections.

Congress workers broke into celebrations in Karnataka and the party headquarters in Delhi, distributing sweets, dancing to drums beats

Party workers also celebrated at the residence of Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakaumar in Bengaluru.

Voting for the 224-member Karnataka assembly was held on May 10 and counting of votes began at 8 am on Saturday.

The fiercely contested election that saw high-pitch campaigns from the political parties is crucial for both BJP and Congress. Hectic electioneering by leaders of various political parties saw BJP allowing Union Ministers and Chief Ministers to campaign with their full force.

The Congress on the other hand worked hard to wrest power from the BJP that was striving to break the 38-year-old pattern of alternating governments and retain its power in the state.