Published May 11, 2026 | 7:29 PM ⚊ Updated May 11, 2026 | 7:29 PM
Supreme Court of India. Credit: iStock
Synopsis: The bench observed that the Returning Officer deducted 248 postal votes cast in favour of Rajegowda from out of the 562 postal votes earlier counted in his favour and 2 postal votes were added to the earlier 689 postal votes polled for the BJP leader.
The Supreme Court on Monday, 11 May, granted interim relief to Congress leader TD Rajegowda, directing that he will remain the MLA of Karnataka’s Sringeri constituency for now, after a recent vote recount had resulted in BJP candidate DN Jeevaraj being declared the MLA.
“We cannot let you hijack a democracy like this,” Bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and K Vinod Chandran remarked.
The court directed restoration of status quo ante (state of affairs as it existed before the vote recount).
The bench observed that the Returning Officer deducted 248 postal votes cast in favour of Rajegowda from out of the 562 postal votes earlier counted in his favour and 2 postal votes were added to the earlier 689 postal votes polled for the BJP leader.
“On the strength of this exercise, which went beyond the scope of what was ordered, we are informed that certain steps have been taken. As such steps are prima facie without a foundation, we are of the opinion that interference is required by this court”, the Court stated.
Justice Chandran also remarked that there was no question of reverification of already validated postal ballots.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on 21 May.
Also Read: Tampering allegations, competing victory claims mar Sringeri postal ballot recount
During the 2023 Assembly Elections in Karnataka, sitting Congress MLA TD Rajegowda (59,171 votes) had won by a thin margin of 201 votes against BJP’s DN Jeevaraj (58,970 votes) in Sringeri. However, of the 1,822 postal ballots cast, 279 were initially rejected.
Jeevaraj challenged the legality of the election of Rajegowda in Karnataka High Court. In April 2026, the court directed the Returning Officer to re-verify the 279 rejected postal ballots polled in the elections for Sringeri constituency in 2023.
Following the recount on Sunday, 3 May, Rajegowda’s tally has reduced by 255 votes, DN Jeevaraj was declared as winner, prompting celebrations by the BJP.
