Karnataka Council polls: Upset for Congress as it loses Bengaluru Teachers’ constituency

Supporters of NDA candidate for Bengaluru Teachers’ Constituency A.P. Ranganath celebrate his victory in the Legislative Council elections, in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

The ruling Congress could be staring at an embarrassing loss in the Legislative Council elections where the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has won in two seats and leading in the other two where counting is still under way. The biggest upset for Congress came from Bengaluru Teachers constituency where five-time MLC and former Deputy Chairman Puttanna lost to NDA candidate A.P. Ranganath by a margin of 908 votes.

The result could be a shot in the arm for the NDA partners after having been jolted by cross voting of 11 of its MLAs during the poll to seven Legislative Council seats in June. The Congress had won five out of seven seats and the saffron party had won two seats. Earlier in May, the Congress had also won Davangere South and Bagalkot bypolls, retaining both the seats despite strong internal differences.

Of the four constituencies that went into polls on October 23, three constituencies were held by the BJP and the Bengaluru Teachers constituency was held by the Congress.

Mr. Ranganath, the Janata Dal (Secular) party’s legal cell head polled 10,810 first preference votes in Bengaluru Teachers constituency, defeating Mr. Puttanna, who polled 9,902 votes. A total of 21,056 votes were found valid, while 1,857 votes were rejected as invalid.

Janata Dl (Secular) sources credited good coordination with its alliance partner BJP for the poll victory though the alliance delayed announcing the candidate. The win for JD(S) will improve its strength in the 75–member Upper House from 6 to 7. “This election is a precursor to a new sun rise. My warm wishes to those who rejected the arrogance of power and money. This is an indication for the 2028 elections,“ Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said on social media platform ‘X’. “This election has shown that unity in the alliance has strength.“

BJP’s Shashil Namoshi will enter the Legislative Council for his fifth term after defeating the Congress candidate Sharanappa Mattur by a margin of 3,297 votes in the North-East Teachers Constituency. Mr. Namoshi polled 15,596 first preference votes against 12,299 votes polled by Mr. Mattur. Of the total of 30,253 ballot papers counted, 1,873 ballot papers were rejected as invalid.

At the time of going to press, the BJP candidate and sitting member S.V. Sankanur was leading against his Congress rival Mohan Limbikai, a former MLC, by a margin of 3,529 votes after second round of counting in Karnataka West Graduates’ Constituency. Mr. Sankanur secured 12,620 votes against Mr. Limbikai, who had secured 9,091 votes. Of the total 28,001 ballot papers counted, 4,072 votes were declared invalid. A total of 73,568 voters out of 97,400 votes have exercised their franchise.

In Karnataka South East Graduates’ Constituency, the BJP candidate K.M. Suresha, who has secured 6,296 votes, was leading against Congress candidate Shashi Hulkuntemutt, who secured 5,174 votes at the first round of counting. Sources said that since preferential votes are to be counted, counting in South East Graduates is likely to get over by Wednesday afternoon or evening.

Of the four constituencies, South East Graduates constituency has the highest number of voters. Of the total 1,83,888 voters in the constituency, 78,070 voters have exercise their franchise. The BJP nominated Mr. Suresha after its sitting member Chidanand M. Gowda opted out.