Bengaluru, June 18 -- Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi acknowledged the existence of groups within the Congress party in the state but asserted that all legislators would vote for Congress candidates and expressed confidence of winning all five seats contested by the party, as voting for seven seats of the Karnataka Legislative Council commenced on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters after arriving at the Vidhana Soudha to cast his vote, Jarkiholi said, "All five contestants will win, there is no doubt. We have the numbers necessary to win."

Admitting the presence of factions within the Congress in Karnataka, he said, "Yes, there are groups in Congress, but they will still vote for the party."

Congress MLA and former minister Santosh La...