Voting Underway for Seven Karnataka Legislative Council Seats
Voting has commenced for seven seats in the Karnataka Legislative Council, with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and senior Congress leaders expressing strong confidence in winning all five contested seats. Amid discussions of internal party dynamics, leaders like Santosh Lad and Satish Jarkiholi have emphasized their belief in securing victory based on their numbers. The elections are prompted by the retirement of several MLCs, and Congress aims to enhance its representation in the council. As the voting unfolds, the political landscape in Karnataka remains dynamic and closely watched.
| Jun 18, 2026, 14:36 IST
Karnataka Legislative Council Elections
Voting is currently taking place for seven seats in the Karnataka Legislative Council. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar cast his vote at Vidhana Soudha, while senior Congress leaders expressed confidence that the party will win all five seats it is contesting. Former minister and Congress MLA Santosh Lad stated, "We are fully confident, and I believe all five candidates will win easily." Senior Congress leader Satish Jarkiholi also affirmed that the party has the necessary numbers for victory, stating, "There is no doubt that all five of our candidates will win. We have the required strength to secure victory."
Addressing the issue of factionalism within the party, Jarkiholi acknowledged, "Yes, there are factions in Congress, but they will still vote for the party. Congress MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao echoed this sentiment, asserting, "We will win all five seats based on our votes. We had gathered our legislators in one place yesterday, where mock voting was conducted. We have sufficient numbers." Congress MLA K.N. Rajanna claimed that the alleged redistribution of votes by the BJP indicates the impending defeat of the JD(S) candidate.
Rajanna remarked, "The BJP has redistributed votes due to the certainty of the JD(S) candidate's defeat. This shows that the JD(S) candidate will lose. Voting for the seven seats in the Karnataka Legislative Council commenced at 9 AM at Vidhana Soudha and will continue until 4 PM."
To facilitate secret voting, two polling stations have been established within the state secretariat. These elections are being held due to the retirement of seven MLCs whose terms end on June 30. Retiring members include Congress's Govindaraju, Nasir Ahmed, Thippannappa, and B.K. Hariprasad, along with BJP's M.T.B. Nagaraj, Pratap Simha Naik, and Sunil Vallyapur. Currently, the Congress holds 37 seats in the 75-member upper house, while the BJP has 29 and the JD(S) has seven seats, along with one independent member and the chairman. Through these elections, Congress aims to increase its representation in the council.