DHAKA: The Republican Party has retained its majority in the US House of Representatives, projections say.

TV networks ABC and NBC both projected a Republican majority in the 435-seat chamber, which the party has controlled since 2010.

Meanwhile the Democrats were trying to gain control of the 100-seat Senate, where 34 seats were being contested, reports the BBC.

They need to gain four seats if Hillary Clinton wins the presidency and five if Donald Trump wins.

That’s because the vice-president is automatically a member of the Senate.

They have so far gained just one seat, Tammy Duckworth, a double amputee Iraq war veteran, taking Mark Kirk’s place in Illinois.

However in Indiana, seen as another potential win for the Democrats, Republican Todd Young saw off a challenge from former Senator Evan Bayh.

In Florida, former contender for the Republican presidential nomination Marco Rubio won re-election and in Ohio, Rob Portman also won re-election, beating Democrat Ted Strickland.

Dominance in Congress is seen as being crucial to the next president’s prospects of turning their policy agenda into law.

BDST: 1030 HRS, NOV 09, 2016
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*** Trump and Hillary: Neck and Neck