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Congress celebrates elections win in Karnataka poll | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
India's Congress party is celebrating victory in assembly elections in the state of Karnataka, winning at least 119 seats in the 224-seat chamber. | |
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has won only about 39 seats and the regional Janata Dal (Secular) won 40 seats. | |
Karnataka, home to India's information technology industry, has been the only southern state to be ruled by the BJP. | |
The BBC's Soutik Biswas in Delhi says the results in Karnataka came as a big blow to the Hindu nationalist BJP. | |
Our correspondent says that they are a setback to its hopes to win the general elections next year. | |
The party has lost ground there amid allegations of corruption against senior state party leaders. | |
At the same time the results are a boost to the Congress party, our correspondent says, which is fighting a number of corruption scandals nationally while also struggling with a slowing economy. | |
Last November, the BJP suffered a major setback after senior leader and former state Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa formed his own party. | Last November, the BJP suffered a major setback after senior leader and former state Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa formed his own party. |
Mr Yeddyurappa quit as chief minister after an anti-corruption report in 2011 accused him of being involved in a mining scandal. | Mr Yeddyurappa quit as chief minister after an anti-corruption report in 2011 accused him of being involved in a mining scandal. |
An anti-corruption report in that year alleged that the scam cost the exchequer more than $3bn (£1.8bn) between 2006 and 2010. Mr Yeddyurappa denied any wrongdoing. | An anti-corruption report in that year alleged that the scam cost the exchequer more than $3bn (£1.8bn) between 2006 and 2010. Mr Yeddyurappa denied any wrongdoing. |
"We have had a setback," former Karnataka chief minister and BJP leader Sadananda Gowda said. | "We have had a setback," former Karnataka chief minister and BJP leader Sadananda Gowda said. |
The BJP won 110 seats in the last state elections in 2008. | The BJP won 110 seats in the last state elections in 2008. |
Analysts say it took the BJP a lot of time and effort to build the party in Karnataka, and those achievements have been squandered away in one term. | |
Senior Congress party leader Siddaramaiah said his party was "confident of forming the next government on our own". | Senior Congress party leader Siddaramaiah said his party was "confident of forming the next government on our own". |
More than 71% out of 41 million eligible voters cast their votes on Sunday and more than 2,900 candidates contested the polls. | More than 71% out of 41 million eligible voters cast their votes on Sunday and more than 2,900 candidates contested the polls. |
Ballots are being counted at 36 centres, with complete results expected later. |
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