Bangalore: As a day left for counting process to begin to spell out the electorates' verdict in the simultaneous polls Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna today (May 12, 2004) reiterated his confidence of Congress retaining power in the State.

"I don't share the perception of the people throwing up a verdict for hung Assembly. There will be a clear verdict in favour of Congress," Krishna asserted while answering queries by reporters at the specially erected media centre set up by the State Government to disseminate information on election results.

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Dismissing that there was an anti-incumbency wave in the State, Krishna said, "In entire Southern parts of the country there is a pro-Congress wave and this has been established by the party's landslide victory in Andhra Pradesh."

Krishna, who is bidding for another five-year term in the State, hastened to add, "There is a anti-BJP wave."

Krishna has been maintaining that the Congress will get a comfortable majority to form the Government in the State as people will vote it on the basis of its performance and even attributed the poll outcome as a referendum on his Government.

He expressed happiness over the arrangement made by the Department of Information and Publicity for providing details on poll results to the media and public.

Information Department Commissioner, I M Vittal Murthy briefed the Chief Minister on the facilities created at the Centre.

28 Lok Sabha and 224 Assembly constituencies went to voting in two phases in Karnataka on April 20 and 26.

Counting of votes will take place tomorrow (May 13, 2004).