New Delhi - India's ruling Congress Party Monday won three of the five state elections that were seen as a political barometer for the country's upcoming general elections against the backdrop of terrorist attacks and the economic slowdown.

Results from the Election Commission showed the Congress Party retained power in the national capital New Delhi for a third five-year term while it recorded a landslide victory in the north-eastern state of Mizoram.

New Delhi, Dec 8 : The Congress Party is back in power in Rajasthan and Mizoram and retained Delhi; while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been able to hold Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

The emerging results to Assembly polls show a 3:2 split in favour of Congress, providing a much-needed boost to the Congress-led UPA just ahead of general elections due in April-May 2009.

Congress headed for a hatrick today in Delhi, bagging 42 seats, leaving its rival BJP way behind with 23 seats.

New Delhi, Dec 8 : Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today severely criticised politicizing the issue of terrorism.

She was speaking to the media even as the results of the assembly polls were trickling in.

According to initial reports, Congress was leading in Delhi, Rajasthan and Mizoram while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was ahead in Madhya Pradesh and in Chhattisgarh.

The main opposition BJP during its election campaigning had slammed the Congress for failing to check terror incidences in the country.

New Delhi, Dec 8 : As counting continues progress in five states, the Congress is set to gain power in Rajasthan, Delhi and Mizoram while it is in a neck-and-neck race with the BJP in Chhattisgarh.

The only consolation for the BJP appears to be coming from Madhya Pradesh where it has established a clear lead over Congress and is on the way to retaining power. In the 230-member assembly, BJP was ahead in 120 seats and the Congress in 70. Others account for 30.