NDA Sweeps Karnataka MLC Polls, Congress Fails to Win a Seat
BJP wins three seats and JD(S) takes one in the October 23 elections, giving the Opposition alliance fresh ammunition against the Congress government.
GG News Bureau
Bengaluru, 28th Oct: The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has won all four seats contested in Karnataka’s Legislative Council elections, with the BJP securing three seats and its ally Janata Dal (Secular) winning one. The ruling Congress failed to win any of the seats.
Held on October 23, the elections tested coordination between the BJP and JD(S), as well as the Congress’s support among teachers and graduates. The results give the Opposition alliance a political boost as it prepares to take on the Congress government, which came to power in 2023.
BJP leader Ashok Gowda described the outcome as a success for the NDA and criticised the Congress government, claiming that the results reflected public dissatisfaction with its performance.
BJP Wins Three Seats, JD(S) Takes Bengaluru
The BJP won the North-East Teachers’ constituency, the South-East Graduates’ constituency and the West Graduates’ constituency. The JD(S) secured the Bengaluru Teachers’ constituency.
In the North-East Teachers’ seat, sitting BJP MLC Shashil G Namoshi defeated Congress candidate Sharanappa Mattur, securing his fifth victory in the constituency. The seat covers Kalaburagi, the home district of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
In the South-East Graduates’ constituency, BJP candidate KM Suresh defeated Congress nominee Shashi Hulikunte Mutt. The BJP’s SV Sankanur won the West Graduates’ seat against Congress candidate Mohan Limbikai.
The JD(S) victory in Bengaluru Teachers’ constituency also offered an indication of coordination between the two NDA partners in the state.
Opposition Alliance Gains Momentum
The results were closely watched as a test of whether the BJP and JD(S) could transfer support to each other’s candidates. The alliance’s performance is likely to strengthen its political messaging against the Congress ahead of future electoral contests.
Gowda also linked the outcome to the upcoming Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections, arguing that the Congress should take the results as a warning.
However, the MLC election outcome is not expected to affect the stability of the Congress government, given the party’s strength in the Legislative Council.
Congress Retains Council Majority
The 75-member Karnataka Legislative Council has 38 Congress members and 24 BJP members, while the JD(S) has six. The House also has one Independent member and a chairman. Five seats reserved for government nominations remain vacant.
Although the Congress lost all four seats in these elections, its existing strength in the Council remains larger than that of either opposition party individually.
