BENGALURU, Oct. 28 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) alliance won all four Karnataka legislative council seats contested by teachers and graduates, delivering a major blow to the ruling Congress.

The alliance won all four contests reserved for teachers and university graduates across Bengaluru and surrounding districts. The results do not alter the overall balance of power in the 75-member legislative council, where Congress currently has 38 members. The BJP's tally in the council will rise to 27, and the JD(S)'s to 7. Five seats earmarked for government nominations are vacant.

The JD(S) wrested the Bengaluru Teachers' constituency from the Congress, with AP Ranganath defeating sitting legislative council memb...