Bengaluru, June 18 -- Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the Congress received a "very big mandate" from legislators across party lines in the Karnataka Legislative Council elections, after the party won five of the seven seats.

"Today, the election was not expected. I thought that there would be no elections. But the JDS and BJP wanted to fight the elections," Shivakumar told reporters after the results.

The CM said on Thursday that the Congress high command had finalised candidates who have "been working in the party throughout the country."

"Today, a very big mandate has been given among the legislators. Many from different political parties, cutting across party lines, have voted in favour of the government. They have agre...