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.

Stupefied by the Congress victories in Delhi and Rajasthan assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh described the victory as "quite unexpected" and "shocking".

Speaking from the BJP headquarters, Rajnath Singh said, "In Delhi the results were quite unexpected and shocking; the Delhi results are surprising as we had expected a majority." Mr. Singh said that the BJP also considered the loss of Rajasthan "unexpected".

Nearly 62 pc electorate exercised their franchise during the re-polling in 130 booths across 16 districts of Rajasthan. 

The re-polling was necessitated due to complaints of rigging, booth capturing and malfunctioning of EVMs in the 4th December assembly polls in the state. 

The constituencies where repolling were held included Todabheem, Deeg-Khumher, Pushkar, Khanpur, Kolayat, Kota-South Kotputali, Civil Lines (Jaipur), Sanchore, Bilara, Khandela, Mundawar, Nokha, Dholpur, Sawaimadhopur, Mandalgarh, Dausa Bandikui, Baran-Atru, Fatehpur, Bari, Mehava, Gangapur and Karauli.  

The re-polling was marred by a caste clash between two communities in Todabheem assembly constituency, injuring eight persons, official sources said.  

Jaipur, Dec 6 : Re-polling will be held in Rajasthan on December 7 instead of December 6 as announced earlier by the Election Commission, official sources said here today.

The Chief Electoral Office had announced in Jaipur on Friday that re-polling would be held in about three dozen polling booths in the districts of Ajmer, Bharatpur, Bhilwara, Dausa, Dholpur, Jaipur, Jhalawar, Kota and Sawaimadhopur.

The respective returning officers announced re-polling after getting complaints of rigging, EVM malfunctioning, and booth capturing during polling on Thursday.

The Election Commission of India has announced that re-polling will be held in Rajasthan on 7th December.

Earlier, the date was fixed on 6 Dec.

Chief Electoral Office has recommended in Jaipur on Friday that repolling in about three dozen polling booths in the districts of Ajmer, Bharatpur, Bhilwara, Dausa, Dholpur, Jaipur, Jhalawar, Kota and Sawaimadhopur.

Repolling was recommended by the respective returning officers after complaints of rigging, EVM malfunctioning, and booth-capturing during polling in the desert state on Thursday.

As many as 68 percent voters exercised their franchise for assembly polls in Rajasthan on Thursday.

"The polling percentage is expected to be around 68 percentages as we are still compiling the figures," election commission officials said. Same percent turnout was registered in the 2003 Assembly elections.

There were 43,000 polling stations in 33 districts where 43,000 EVMs were used. Mechanical problems were reported in about 150 EVMs which were replaced immediately, they said.

Rajasthan has a 200 seated assembly with 3.62 crore-strong voters.