While the Election Commission is yet to officially announce the elections to the two Karnataka Legislative Assembly seats that are lying vacant, intense lobbying has begun within the ruling Congress for tickets in Davangere South and Bagalkot constituencies.
The by-election is necessitated after the death of Congress veterans Shamanur Shivashankarappa and HY Meti, who represented Davangere South and Bagalkot respectively.
In Davangere South, members of Shivashankarappa’s family along with several Muslim leaders are vying for the Congress ticket. In Bagalkot, Meti’s children emerged as leading players.
According to party sources, the Shivashankarappa family wants to field one of its members to maintain its influence in the constituency. Mines and Geology Minister SS Mallikarjun, son of Shivashankarappa, is said to be lobbying for a ticket for either his son Samarth or his brother SS Ganesh. Shivashankarappa, who died on 14 December 2025, represented the constituency several times. Meanwhile, Prabha Mallikarjun, wife of SS Mallikarjun, is currently serving as the Congress MP for Davangere.
The Muslim community constitutes nearly 30% of the electorate in Davangere South, making it a significant vote bank. BZ Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed is said to be promoting a candidate from the minority community and supporting Congress MLC Abdul Jabbar. KPCC Vice President ARM Hussain is also an aspirant for the ticket.
After Congress leader Yasir Ahmed Khan’s victory over BJP candidate Bharath Bommai in the November 2024 Shiggaon by-election, minority leaders within the party have intensified their demand for tickets in constituencies with a sizeable Muslim population, party sources said.
Some Congress leaders, including Channagiri MLA Basavaraj V Shivaganga, are also said to be supporting the idea of fielding a candidate from the Muslim community in Davangere South.
Bagalkot
In Bagalkot, there was competition in Meti’s family for the ticket to the party. His sons, Mallikarjun and Umesh, are seen as frontrunners, while his daughters, Bayakka Meti, a former Zilla Panchayat member, and Mahadevi Meti are also aspiring to contest.
Most local Congress workers are said to favor the idea of fielding one of Meti’s sons as the party’s candidate. During the recent visits of Congress ministers to the constituency, party workers are said to have expressed their support for the post of one of his sons. However, there are indications of internal differences emerging within the family regarding the candidacy. However, sources say the family is likely to support whichever candidate the party high command ultimately chooses.
Published – 20 Feb 2026 21:19 IST