Bengaluru, June 18 -- The ruling Congress won five out of seven seats in the Karnataka Legislative Council elections on Thursday, with cross-voting from BJP and JD(S) ranks boosting its tally well beyond its stated strength. The BJP won two seats, while the lone JD(S) candidate lost to the Congress's fifth nominee in a close contest.

Congress, which has 135 MLAs according to the official party count, polled 151 votes, 16 more than its strength. All five Congress candidates were declared elected in the first round.

The BJP has 64 MLAs but its two candidates together secured only 56 votes, a shortfall of eight. BJP candidate Lingaraj Patil received 27 votes against the 30 assigned to him, while Raghu K polled 29, one short of his quota. ...