Published May 04, 2026 | 2:55 PM ⚊ Updated May 04, 2026 | 2:55 PM
If trends hold, the twin victories will bolster Congress government as it approaches three years in office.
Synopsis: Congress is leading in both Bagalkot and Davanagere South bypolls, continuing its winning streak since 2023. Despite internal rifts and setbacks, Samarth Mallikarjun and Umesh Meti are ahead of BJP rivals. The victories, if confirmed, will strengthen Congress’s position as it nears three years in office, even amid leadership speculation and recent controversies.
After a high-octane electoral battle, the ruling Congress in Karnataka has won in Bagalkot, one of the seats that went to bypolls. In Davanagere South, the party is leading by over 5,000 votes with two rounds of counting remaining.
Bypolls to both the seats were held on 9 April. Since coming to power in 2023, Congress has won all four bypolls in the state – Shorapur in May 2024, and Channapatna, Sandur and Shiggaon in November 2024. The party appears set to add to this trend.
In Davanagere South, the contest saw a dramatic turnaround. Initially, BJP candidate Srinivas Daskariyappa took a comfortable lead in Davanagere South – a seat that has been held by the Congress for a decade, with late Shamanur Shivashankarappa, from the Lingayat community, holding it uninterrupted since 2013.
However, after 19 rounds of counting, Congress candidate Samarth Mallikarjun is leading with 64139 votes.
The results come at a time when the ruling party has suffered two setbacks. Its MLA from the Dharwad Assembly constituency, Vinay Kulkarni, was disqualified on Saturday after being convicted for murder of BJP leader Yogesh Gowda.
A day later, on Sunday, DN Jeevaraj, BJP candidate from the Sringeri Assembly constituency, who was defeated in the 2023 election by sitting Congress MLA TD Rajegowda, was declared elected as MLA by the returning officer after recounting of postal ballots as ordered by the High Court.
Also Read: Karnataka Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni disqualified after murder conviction
The electoral battle in this seat witnessed turmoil right from the candidate selection choice. Despite demands and pressure to nominate a candidate from the Muslim community, Congress stuck to family loyalty and fielded Mallikarjun, grandson of the late Shivashankarappa.
The move triggered unrest amongst the community that forms a key part of the electorate in the region. In the days leading up to polling, the party tried to keep its unity from falling.
When Congress leader Mohammad Sadiq Pailwan announced that he would fight the bypoll as an independent, a delegation comprising Chief Whip in the Legislative Council Saleem Ahmed and MLA Rizwan Arshad visited his residence and persuaded him to back out.
The infighting did not end there. Soon after polling, two close aides of CM Siddaramaiah—State Congress Minority Department President K Abdul Jabbar and political secretary Naseer Ahmed—were removed from their posts for allegedly engaging in ‘anti-party’ activities, chiefly covertly backing Afsar Kodlipete, a minority candidate who contested on an SDPI ticket in Davanagere South.
The two leaders, along with Housing Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, were named in an internal report prepared by AICC Secretary and co-in-charge Abhishek Dutt for being involved in backing an SDPI candidate – although no such disciplinary action was taken against Khan.
Further, several Muslim Congress leaders held a press conference where they publicly alleged that some minority leaders had ‘conspired’ to defeat Mallikarjun. Amidst this infighting, concerns were raised about a potential split in the Congress’ core Muslim vote base, which could eventually help the opposition.
Despite these divisions, Congress now appears poised to retain the seat, a result that could offer major relief to the party. Meanwhile, SDPI candidate Kodlipete was trailing behind the BJP candidate at third. After 19 rounds of voting, he secured 18444 votes.
Also Read: CM change not on cards “for now”: Kharge douses speculation mill in Karnataka
In Bagalkot, Congress candidate Umesh Meti maintained a crucial lead since counting began, against BJP candidate Veeranna Charantimath.
After 23 rounds of counting, Meti secured victory with 98919 votes while Charantimath secured 76587 votes.
The contest revisited a familiar rivalry. Umesh Meti’s father, late HY Meti, defeated BJP’s Charantimath by 5,878 votes in the 2023 Assembly election. In 2018, Charantimath defeated Meti to win the seat; in 2013, he had lost to the Congress leader.
As in Davanagere South, the ruling party decided to stick with family equations by nominating Umesh in Bagalkot.
If trends hold, the twin victories will bolster Congress government as it approaches three years in office, even as speculation over a potential leadership reshuffle and internal disquiet within the Chief Minister’s Office continues to simmer.
