Bangalore, December 9: Senior Indian National Congress leader DK Shivakumar on Monday accepted party's defeat in the 2019 Karnataka bypolls with the Bharatiya Janata Party. As per trends released by Election Commission, BJP is ahead in 12 seats while Congress in two and independent in one. The congress is likely heading towards defeat in nine of its twelve seats, while the saffron party is making huge gains. Karnataka Bypoll Results 2019: Trends Give BJP The Edge in 12 Out of 15 Seats, BS Yediyurappa Set to Retain Power.

“We have to agree with the mandate of the voters of these 15 constituencies. People have accepted the defectors. We have accepted defeat, I don’t think we have to be disheartened,” Shivakumar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Karnataka Bypoll Results 2019 Live News Updates.

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The BJP currently has 105 MLAs and a support of one independent candidate in the 208 member Karnataka Assembly. Congress has 66 MLAs and Janata Dal (Secular) 34. The ruling BJP needs to win six seats to claim the majority in the assembly.

The 17 Congress-JD(S) MLAs had resigned in July, which led to a fall of the coalition government in the state. Then-speaker KR Ramesh had disqualified 17 MLAs under anti-defection laws. The MLAs were also barred from contesting polls till 2023 election.

The Supreme Court, however, while upholding the disqualification, said that they could contest. The BJP has fielded 13 MLAs who had resigned, with Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa describing them as future ministers.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 09, 2019 11:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).