The ruling Congress in Karnataka is leading over the rival BJP in the twin by-elections to the state assembly from Nanjangud (SC) and Gundlupet segments where the counting of votes was in progress on Thursday, said an official.

"Congress candidate K.N. Keshavamurthy was leading by 17,416 votes over BJP's Srinivasa Prasad in the Nanjungud (SC) constituency after 11 rounds of counting till 11.30 a.m.," said an official of the Election Commission.

In the adjacent Gundlupet constituency, M.C. Mohan Kumari alias Geetha of the Congress was ahead by 4,650 votes of the BJP's C.S. Niranjankumar after nine rounds of counting.

The by-election from the two assembly constituencies in the old Mysuru region was held on April 9. A record turnout of 78 per cent voters was registered in Nanjangud and about 80 per cent in Gundlupet.