The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) rout in Karnataka "is a clear result against (its) ideology", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Wednesday.
"The people of the country know what's what and they will reject the BJP ideology as the result in Karnataka shows," he told reporters.
Manmohan Singh admitted that corruption "is a major issue in the country" and suggested that all sections of society sit together and find a solution to this problem.
The prime minister said Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi "took a leading role" in the Karnataka campaign "and worked hard".
"I congratulate the Congress workers of Karnataka."
The Congress is set to return to power in Karnataka with a simple majority in the assembly. The BJP was routed.