Polls for four Council seats are going on peacefully but for minor incidents in Bengaluru

Elections to the four seats from the alumni and teachers constituencies to the Karnataka Legislative Council, in which 43 candidates contested, were peaceful on Friday, barring some minor skirmishes in Bengaluru. Out of a total of 3.43 million voters, 2.01 million voters cast their ballots. Counting of votes will begin on October 27.

While Congress is contesting in all four constituencies, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) are contesting in three and one constituencies respectively. Of the four seats that went to polls on Friday, the Congress has one seat while the BJP has three seats.

Currently, the Congress has 38 members in the 75-member upper house, while the BJP and JD (S) have 24 and 6 members respectively. While five seats are vacant, one seat is held by an independent and the other seat is held by the chairman.

Bengaluru Teachers constituency, where five-time MLC and former Upper House Deputy Speaker Puttanna is seeking re-election on a Congress ticket, has registered 81.98% votes in the poll. Out of a total of 27,405 votes, 22,468 votes were received after Friday’s voting. The veteran member is pitted against BJP-backed Janata Dal (Secular) candidate AP Ranganath.

In the Karnataka West alumni seat where sitting BJP member SV Sankanur is taking on former MLC Mohan Limbikai, 75.62% votes were cast. Against the total number of 97,400 votes, 73,658 voters exercised their right to vote. Prominent politicians who cast their votes included Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and former Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti.

In North East Teachers constituency, where BJP MLC Shashil Namoshi is being contested by Congress candidate Sharanappa Mattur, 86.97% votes were polled. Of the 34,784 votes cast, 30,350 votes were subsidized, according to officials.

Karnataka South East Graduates’ constituency polled the highest among the four that went to polls on Friday with 73.58%. KM Suresh of BJP is up against Shashi Hulkuntemutt of Congress. Out of a total of 1,83,888 voters, 78,070 exercised their right to vote. Sitting member Chidanand M. Gowda, who was learned to have expressed interest in contesting the Legislative Assembly election from one of the constituencies in Tumakuru district, is believed not to have participated in the contest.

A minor skirmish

The premises of Ambedkar College in Bengaluru saw some drama after supporters of Rajarajeshwari Nagar Muniratna legislator almost clashed with Congress workers who claimed they had insulted their leader, who was also sitting on a dharna for some time. Following the incident, a case and counter case was registered at the Annapoorneshwarinagar police station under the sections of BNS, dealing with voluntarily causing simple hurt and unlawful assembly.

A senior police officer told The Hindu that none of the individuals involved in the scuffle sustained major injuries; therefore, no arrests were made. “There was only mutual pushing and shouting of slogans,” the officer said.

Published – 23 Oct 2026 22:09 IST