Karnataka MLC Polls: Congress Suffers Complete Rout as BJP-JD(S) Alliance Sweeps All Four Seats

The Congress suffered a major political setback in Karnataka after losing all four Legislative Council seats that went to the polls, with the BJP retaining three constituencies and its ally, the JD(S), wresting the Bengaluru Teachers’ seat from the ruling party.

The results, declared on Tuesday and Wednesday after counting continued overnight in two constituencies, highlighted the Opposition alliance’s ability to consolidate support and coordinate its campaign against the Congress government.

In the biggest setback for Congress, JD(S) candidate A P Ranganath, backed by the BJP, defeated sitting Congress MLC Puttanna in the Bengaluru Teachers’ Constituency by 908 votes. Ranganath secured 10,810 votes against Puttanna’s 9,902. The contest was particularly significant because Puttanna had switched from the JD(S) to Congress ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections. Both candidates belong to the Vokkaliga community.

The BJP retained the North-East Teachers’, South-East Graduates’ and West Graduates’ constituencies, strengthening its hold over the three seats.

In the North-East Teachers’ Constituency, sitting BJP MLC Shashil G Namoshi defeated Congress candidate Sharanappa Mattur by 3,297 votes. Namoshi secured 15,596 votes, marking his fifth victory from the constituency, which covers Kalaburagi and neighbouring districts in the Kalyana Karnataka region. Kalaburagi is the home turf of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

In the South-East Graduates’ Constituency, BJP candidate K M Suresh defeated Congress nominee Shashi Hulikunte Mutt by a substantial margin of 23,098 votes. In the West Graduates’ Constituency, sitting BJP MLC S V Sankanur defeated Mohan Limbikai by 9,323 votes, polling 33,711 votes against the Congress candidate’s 24,388.

The four constituencies voted on October 23 through ballot papers, following the established practice for these elections. The contests were closely watched as a test of coordination between the BJP and JD(S), which have joined hands against Congress.

Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee working president B K Hariprasad, ministers and senior party leaders campaigned extensively to retain the party’s existing seat and make gains elsewhere. However, Congress failed to win any of the four seats.

Although the outcome does not directly threaten the stability of the Congress government, it provides the Opposition with fresh political ammunition ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections. The results also raise questions about Congress’s support among teachers and graduates, as well as the effectiveness of its campaign in constituencies where it hoped to make gains.

The 75-member Karnataka Legislative Council currently has 38 Congress members, 24 from the BJP and six from the JD(S), besides one Independent and Chairman Saleem Ahmed. Five seats reserved for government nominations remain vacant, and their eventual filling is expected to increase Congress’s strength further.

For the BJP and JD(S), the sweep offers a political boost and an opportunity to demonstrate that their alliance can transfer support across constituencies. For Congress, the defeat is a warning that its organisational strength and campaign efforts may not be enough to counter a coordinated Opposition.