Karnataka's ruling JD(S)-Congress alliance on Tuesday won a crucial endorsement trouncing the BJP 4-1 in by-elections for three Lok Sabha and two Assembly seats with the victory in Ballari ending the saffron rival's 14-year vice-like grip on this parliamentary constituency.

The victories with huge margins came as a Diwali gift and a shot in the arm for the nearly six-month-old alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls after facing frequent questions about its longevity.