Congress Sweeps Karnataka MLC Polls as NDA Faces Cross-Voting Setback

By Editor

Posted on June 19, 2026

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Congress Sweeps Karnataka MLC Polls as NDA Faces Cross-Voting Setback

The eagerly awaited results for the seven seats of the Karnataka Legislative Council have been announced, with the ruling Congress party securing a resounding victory by clinching five seats. Amidst intense drama and allegations of cross-voting, the opposition BJP managed to secure only two seats, while the lone JD(S) candidate suffered a defeat in a closely contested battle against the fifth Congress candidate. The cross-voting by certain BJP and JD(S) legislators ultimately turned the tide heavily in favor of the Congress, serving as the defining highlight of the election.

Statistically, the Congress party significantly outperformed its numerical strength in the assembly. Despite having a base of 135 MLAs, the party pooled an impressive total of 151 votes, gaining an additional 16 votes beyond its official strength. This strategic consolidation allowed all five Congress candidates to register victories in the very first round of counting. Individually, B.K. Hariprasad, Tippannappa Kamakanoor, and B.S. Shivanna secured 30 votes each, while P.V. Mohan gathered 29 votes, and the fifth nominee, Vinay Karthik, topped with 32 votes.

Conversely, the opposition alliance faced notable deficits during the polling process. The BJP, which boasts a strength of 64 MLAs, saw its two candidates accumulate a combined total of just 56 votes, reflecting a shortage of eight votes. BJP nominee Lingaraj Patil managed only 27 votes against his targeted 30, while Raghu K. fell short by one vote from his required quota, finishing with 29 votes. The situation was equally challenging for the JD(S); despite having 18 MLAs, its candidate Govindraju secured a mere 14 votes. Under the NDA alliance agreement, the BJP was supposed to transfer three of its MLA votes to the JD(S) candidate, which should have brought his total to 21 votes, but he ultimately faced a deficit of seven votes.

Following the conclusion of the vote counting, political circles were abuzz with questions regarding the disappearance of 12 crucial NDA votes. Out of these missing votes, eight were traced back to the BJP’s expected share and four from the JD(S) camp. While official clarity from election authorities is still awaited on how many of these missing votes were intentionally cast in favor of the Congress and how many were declared invalid, the Karnataka BJP has reacted sharply. The party issued a stern warning, stating that the lawmakers who engaged in cross-voting would be identified soon and face strict disciplinary action.

Reacting to the allegations, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated that he possessed no specific information regarding cross-voting. He dismissed the allegations made by the BJP and JD(S) as expressions of their political frustration, suggesting that some legislators might have simply voted according to their conscience. Shivakumar further noted that the Congress had provided an open avenue for expelled BJP leaders Shivaram Hebbar and S.T. Somashekar, who ultimately chose to exercise their franchise in alignment with their personal principles.