In a major setback for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),

The Congress has taken an early lead in the Karnataka Assembly polls. According to the initial counting trends, the Congress is currently ahead in 116 seats, while the BJP is leading in 105 seats.

The polls, which were held on May 12, were seen as a crucial test for both the Congress and the BJP, as well as for their respective leaders. The Congress, which had formed a coalition government with the Janata Dal (Secular) in the state after the 2018 polls, was hoping to come back to power on its own.

The BJP, on the other hand, was looking to retain power in the state by winning a majority on its own. However, the initial counting trends have given a major boost to the Congress, which is now hoping to maintain its lead and cross the majority mark of 112 seats.

The Karnataka Assembly polls are being closely watched by political analysts and observers across the country, as they are seen as a key indicator of the political mood in the run-up to the 2019 general elections.

The Congress has been out of power in the state for the last five years, and a victory in Karnataka would be a major boost for the party ahead of the 2019 polls. However, it is still too early to predict the final outcome of the polls, as the counting is still underway.