Amit Shah-led BJP and Rahul Gandhi-led Congress were head to head in the coastal belt, Bombay-Karnataka and Hyderabad-Karnataka regions.

Results for Karnataka's Urban Local Body (ULB) elections, which took place on August 31, are due today. Voting was held in 21 out of Karnataka's 30 districts for a total of 105 municipal bodies.

As of 12.50pm, results had been declared on most of the total seats up for grabs. Results were declared on 2,592 out of the total 2,709 seats.

The Congress won 954 seats, the BJP 905 and the JD(S) 364, while independent candidates won 195 seats. Counting for the remaining seats was underway, as of last updating this report.

The results of the Urban Local Body elections are being seen as a pointer to the performance of the coalition government of the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2019.

The elections were held in 21 of the 30 districts across the state. A total of 105 ULBs went to the polls which include 29 city municipal councils, 53 town municipal councils and 23 town panchayats.

An impressive 67.51 per cent voter turnout was recorded.

According to analysts, it is a straight fight between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the coastal belt, Bombay-Karnataka and Hyderabad-Karnataka regions.

However, it is still a three-way fight in the old Mysore region with a greater advantage to the JD(S).

The results will also decide future of alliance for several Lok Sabha constituencies between the Congress and the JD(S) next year.

Sources in the Congress, however, say the results will not have any impact on the coalition government and that both the parties would continue to carry on with their development agenda.

The BJP, which has a stronger presence in the urban pockets, will also get to test its popularity across the state ahead of the general elections.

In 2013, the ULB elections were held in 4,976 seats. The Congress had won 1,960 seats and the BJP and the JD(S) had secured 905 seats each. The remaining 1,206 seats were bagged by independent candidates.

ALSO READ | Kumaraswamy completes 100 days as Karnataka CM, meets Rahul Gandhi to pay regards

ALSO READ | How new aggressive RaGa ensured Congress-JDS's Karnataka victory: The inside story

WATCH | Is Congress-JD(S) alliance a convenient tie up in the name of democracy?