Bengaluru, June 19 -- The Congress on Friday registered a comprehensive victory in the Karnataka Legislative Council elections, winning all five seats it contested, with senior party leaders asserting that the results reflected widespread support for the state government's policies and welfare guarantees.

Speaking after the results were announced, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the party had not anticipated a contest and credited the victory to the unity of the Congress leadership and legislators.

"Today, the election was not expected. I thought that there would be no elections. But the JDS and BJP wanted to fight the elections. The Congress party and the leadership of Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi finalised the candi...