Karnataka panchayat polls: Congress goes ahead of BJP, JDS

Bengaluru, Feb 23: Ruling Congress was today ahead of BJP in the Taluk Panchayat and Zilla Panchayat elections in Karnataka as the two parties were locked in a keen contest.

The two-phased elections were held on February 13 and 20 and the counting of votes is underway since this morning.

Of the total 1,083 zilla panchayat seats, results have been declared for 913 so far and Congress has bagged 428 of them while BJP won 359, State Election Commission said.

While former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda led JD(S) has won 98 seats, independents have bagged 26 seats and others have been victorious in two seats. In the taluk panchayats, results for 3,186 out of 3,884 seats have been declared so far.

Congress has won in 1,403 taluk panchayat seats, while BJP and JD(S) have won 1,123 and 472 seats respectively. 147 independents are among the victorious candidates.

A total of 73.94 per cent voting was recorded in the first phase held on February 13 while the second phase saw a voter turn out of 69.32 per cent.

The outcome of the grassroots level elections would reflect the political mood in the state and give the people's perception of the three-year old Siddaramaiah-led Congress government.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has, however, maintained that the results would not be a referendum on the performance of his government as local issues dominate the local bodies poll.

PTI