Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday (April 4, 2026) expressed confidence that the ruling Congress will secure a decisive victory in the assembly by-polls scheduled for April 9 in Bagalkote and Davanagere South constituencies, citing favorable ground response to the party’s guarantee schemes.
These include ‘Shakti’, ‘Gruha Lakshmi’, ‘Gruha Jyoti’, ‘Yuva Nidhi’ and ‘Anna Bhagya’.
The polls were prompted by the demise of incumbent Congress MPs Shamanur Shivashankarappa and HY Meti, who represented Davanagere South and Bagalkote constituencies.
The Congress fielded Shivashankarapp’s grandson, Samarth Shamanur, in Davanagere South and Umesh Meti in Bagalkote. They are locked in head-to-head contests with BJP candidates T Dasakariyappa and Veerabhadrayya Charantimath.
“Both Bagalkote and Davanagere are very positive. Congress workers are doing excellent work, going door to door and convincing people about the guarantee schemes,” Mr. Shivakumar told reporters here.
He said that even the voters who earlier supported the BJP are now leaning towards the Congress.
“Even those who voted for the BJP earlier are saying they will vote for the Congress. People want the guarantees to continue and are expressing distress over rising prices,” he said.
He expressed confidence in the improved election performance, adding: “There is a strong feeling that we will win by a larger margin than before.” Shivakumar also said that he will go to Kerala for two days and then continue his campaign. “I am going to Kerala for two days. After returning, we will continue the campaign from Davanagere,” he said. — PTI
