Karnataka MLC elections: NDA sweeps all four seats in major setback to DK Shivakumar

The BJP-JDS combine defeated the Congress in all four legislative council seats that went to polls on October 23, Friday, sending a warning bell to the ruling party with assembly polls less than two years away.

The NDA demonstrated a clear edge over the ruling Congress, improving its tally in the council. The two Graduates' Constituencies and two Teachers' Constituencies cover almost two thirds of Karnataka, and the result came as a shot in the arm for the BJP.

JDS candidate AP Ranganath (Bengaluru Teachers) and BJP candidates KM Suresh (Southeast Graduates), SV Sankanur (West Graduates) and Shahil G Namoshi (Northeast Teachers), with their victory, gave reason for the NDA to cheer.


Of the four seats that faced the polls, three were previously held by the BJP and one by the Congress. With the BJP and JD(S) contesting as part of the NDA in Karnataka, the BJP fielded candidates in three constituencies, while its regional ally contested one seat.

Political observers and analysts watched the contest closely as sections of them might view the outcome as an indicator of the government's standing among educated voters.

Three sitting MLCs, including two from the BJP and one from the Congress, sought re-election. The BJP fielded a new candidate in one constituency after its sitting members chose not to contest.

In the run up to the polls, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar directed ministers to campaign across districts covered by the constituencies, conveying the importance the Congress has attached to the polls. But with the outcome being what it is, it’s not known if the Congress ministers took the orders seriously and campaigned.

Unlike assembly and parliament elections, only registered teachers and graduates are eligible to vote in these polls. Political parties view the results as a barometer of sentiment among educated sections of society.

Senior BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar told ET that the MLC polls were a litmus test in which the graduate and teacher voters in about 150 assembly constituencies have sent out a clear message that they have no faith in the Congress regime which came to power through promises of guarantees which it failed to fulfill.