Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Oct 28: The BJP-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance, which is part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has swept all four seats in the Karnataka Legislative Council elections for graduates' and teachers' constituencies, delivering a major setback to the ruling Congress. The results announced following counting on Tuesday, October 27, saw the opposition alliance win all four seats, while the Congress failed to secure a single seat.
The elections were held on October 23 for two graduates' constituencies and two teachers' constituencies. The results were closely watched as a test of coordination between the BJP and JD(S), as well as the Congress's support base among graduates and teachers.
JD(S) candidate A P Ranganath defeated Congress candidate and five-time MLC Puttanna in the Bengaluru Teachers' constituency by 908 votes. Ranganath secured 10,810 votes against Puttanna's 9,902, wresting the seat from the Congress.
In the North-East Teachers' constituency, BJP candidate Shashil G Namoshi retained his seat by defeating Congress candidate Sharanappa Mattur by 3,297 votes. Namoshi secured 15,596 first-preference votes, while Mattur received 12,299.
In the West Graduates' constituency, BJP candidate S V Sankanur registered his third consecutive victory, defeating Congress candidate Mohan Limbikai. BJP candidate K M Suresh also won the South-East Graduates' constituency, completing the NDA's sweep of all four seats.
The outcome is a significant political setback for the Congress leadership, particularly chief minister D K Shivakumar, whose party had campaigned extensively to retain its existing seat and make gains in the other constituencies. The results also demonstrated the BJP and JD(S)'s ability to coordinate their campaigns and secure victories across both teachers' and graduates' constituencies.
The results are likely to provide the BJP-JD(S) alliance with fresh political momentum as Karnataka prepares for the 2028 Assembly elections. However, the Legislative Council results alone do not determine the stability of the state government, given the Congress's existing strength in the 75-member Council.