The BJP currently holds three of the four seats and is looking to retain them, while the JD(S) hopes to wrest the Bengaluru Teachers' constituency from the Congress. The results will also indicate how effectively the two alliance partners can transfer their support to each other's candidates.
The four constituencies going to the polls are South-East Graduates', West Graduates', North-East Teachers' and Bengaluru Teachers'. (Representative image)
Bengaluru,Oct 23, 2026 11:00 IST
Polling for four Karnataka Legislative Council seats began at 8 am on Friday, with the ruling Congress taking on the BJP-JD(S) alliance in a contest that will test the Opposition partners' coordination and the parties' support among graduates and teachers.
Voting will continue until 4 pm, while counting of votes is scheduled for October 27. The four constituencies going to the polls are South-East Graduates', West Graduates', North-East Teachers' and Bengaluru Teachers'.
The BJP has fielded candidates in the first three constituencies, while its ally JD(S) is contesting the Bengaluru Teachers' seat.
In the South-East Graduates' constituency, Congress candidate Shashi Hulikunte Mutt is pitted against BJP's K M Suresh. In the West Graduates' seat, Congress nominee Mohan Limbikai will challenge sitting BJP MLC S V Sankanur.
In the North-East Teachers' constituency, Congress candidate Sharanappa Mattur is contesting against sitting BJP MLC Shashil G Namoshi. In Bengaluru Teachers', Congress MLC Puttanna will face JD(S) candidate A P Ranganath.
The BJP currently holds three of the four seats and is looking to retain them, while the JD(S) hopes to wrest the Bengaluru Teachers' constituency from the Congress. The results will also indicate how effectively the two alliance partners can transfer their support to each other's candidates.
The Bengaluru contest has added significance as Puttanna switched from the JD(S) to the Congress ahead of the last Assembly elections. Both Puttanna and Ranganath belong to the Vokkaliga community.
The Congress, meanwhile, is seeking to retain its lone seat and expand its presence in the other constituencies. Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee working president B K Hariprasad, ministers and senior party leaders have campaigned across the constituencies.
While the results are not expected to affect the stability of the state government, a strong showing by the Opposition alliance could give it fresh political ammunition against the Congress government, which came to power in 2023.
The 75-member Legislative Council currently has 38 Congress members, 24 from the BJP, six from the JD(S), one Independent and Chairman Saleem Ahmed. Five seats earmarked for government nominations are vacant. The Congress is expected to increase its strength once the vacancies are filled, limiting the impact of the election results on the overall balance of power in the House.
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