Karnataka MLC Election Results LIVE: Congress, BJP-JD(S) Eye Wins As Counting Underway On 4 Seats

Karnataka MLC Election Results 2026: The results for the high-stakes Karnataka Legislative Council elections will be declared on Tuesday. The outcome is widely viewed as a crucial test for Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who recently succeeded Siddaramaiah in the top post.

Voting took place across four constituencies: South-East Graduates', West Graduates', North-East Teachers', and Bengaluru Teachers'. Data from the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka indicates strong voter participation, with the South-East Graduates' and West Graduates' constituencies recording turnouts of 73.58% and 75.62%, respectively.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) currently holds three of these seats, while the ruling Congress holds only the Bengaluru Teachers' seat, setting up a fierce competition. These elections serve as a major test for the BJP–JD(S) alliance, with the BJP contesting the South-East Graduates’, West Graduates' and North-East Teachers’ constituencies, and JD(S) running for the Bengaluru Teachers’ seat.

In the South-East Graduates’ constituency, Congress candidate Shashi Hulikunte Mutt faces BJP’s K M Suresh, while in the West Gduates’ constituency, Congress nominee Mohan Limbikai challenges incumbent BJP MLC SV Sankanur. In the Northeast Teachers’ constituency, Congress candidate Sharanappa Mattur competes against sitting BJP MLC Shashil G. Namoshi. Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, Teachers' Congress MLC Puttanna takes on JD(S) candidate A P Ranganath.

How does the polling take place?

Polling for the teachers' and graduates' constituencies of an Indian legislative council is conducted through indirect elections, where participation is restricted to eligible educators and registered graduates.

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For a graduates' constituency, eligibility is limited to individuals holding a degree from a recognized Indian university or an equivalent qualification.

For a teachers' constituency, voting rights are granted to full-time educators who have taught at a secondary school level or higher for at least three of the preceding six years.

Karnataka MLC Election Results Live Updates:

-In the last biennial elections (held in October/November 2020) for these 4 Karnataka Legislative Council (MLC) seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 3 seats, while the Janata Dal (Secular) [JD(S)] won 1 seat.

-Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said on Tuesday that it is the duty of the state government to protect the voting rights of the people of the state. 

-As the row over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls escalated, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said that the ECI should be more transparent. He said the election commissioners are under pressure from the Centre to disown their own dissent letters.

-A total of 43 candidates are contesting the elections in four constituencies – South-East Graduates, West Graduates, North-East Teachers and Bengaluru Teachers. Three of the four incumbents belong to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while the ruling Congress has only one seat.

-The political atmosphere in Karnataka heated up after Union Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy accused Chief Minister DK Shivakumar of offering a Rs 600 crore "supari" (contract killing) to politically eliminate former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's family. These allegations have added a new twist to the ongoing controversy surrounding an alleged sting operation involving former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.