Karnataka bypolls results: Congress accepts defeat after BJP takes early lead in 12 seats 

Congress leader DK Shivakumar on Monday said that the party has accepted the public mandate and there is no need to be disheartened even as BJP is set to sweep the Karnataka bypolls. 

"We have to agree with the mandate of the voters of these 15 constituencies. We have accepted defeat, I don`t think we have to be disheartened," Shivakumar said. 

''It's clear that people have accepted the defectors, the disqualified MLAs of Congress and JD(S),'' he added.

The resignation of the 17 rebel MLAs and their subsequent disqualification in July led to the collapse of the Congress-JDS government, paving the way for the BJP to come to power.

In these by-polls, the BJP has fielded 13 disqualified legislators as party candidates from their respective constituencies.

As per Karnataka bypolls results trends by the Election Commission, BJP is leading on 12 seats, Congress is leading on 2 seats and an independent candidate is leading on 1 seat.

The results of these by-polls will seal the fate of the four-month-old B S Yediyurappa-led BJP government in Karnataka.

Counting of the votes commenced at 8 am and results are likely to be declared by this afternoon.

Yediyurappa confidently said that BJP will win at least 13 seats and the government will be "safeguarded".The elections were held for 15 Assembly seats which were left vacant after the legislators resigned in July, triggering the collapse of the Congress-JDS coalition and paving the way for the BJP to come to power. 

(With inputs from ANI)