Karnataka bypolls 2026: BJP extends lead over Congress in Davangere, Congress ahead in Bagalkot

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, May 4, 2026: BJP is leading by 8,539 votes over Congress after six rounds of counting in the bypoll to the Davangere South Assembly constituency. The BJP has secured 25,728 votes, while Congress has received 17,189 votes. SDPI has polled 2,659 votes.

In contrast, in Bagalkot, Congress candidate Umesh Meti is leading BJP’s Veerabhadrayya Charantimath by a margin of 9,969 votes, according to the Election Commission.

In a rare incident earlier in the day, officials had to break open the locks of three strong rooms where electronic voting machines (EVMs) were stored after the keys went missing.

The bypolls were held on April 9 following the deaths of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti (Bagalkot) and Shamanur Shivashankarappa (Davangere South).

While the outcome of these by-elections is unlikely to have an immediate impact on state politics, the contests are seen as a prestige battle for both the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP. Congress is aiming to retain both seats, while the BJP is looking to wrest them and boost its prospects ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections.

Voter turnout stood at 68.74% in Bagalkot and 68.43% in Davangere South. Officials indicated that a clearer picture of the final results is expected by midday.

Security has been tightened at counting centres to ensure smooth proceedings. Counting is being held at the University of Horticultural Sciences in Bagalkot and DRR School in Davangere, with 14 tables set up at each centre.

A total of nine candidates contested in Bagalkot, while 25 were in the fray in Davangere South.

The BJP fielded former MLA Veerabhadrayya Charantimath in Bagalkot and newcomer Srinivas T Dasakariyappa in Davangere South. The Congress nominated family members of the late legislators—Umesh Meti, son of H Y Meti, and Samarth Mallikarjun, grandson of Shamanur Shivashankarappa.

Samarth Mallikarjun’s father, S S Mallikarjun, is a minister in the Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet, while his mother, Prabha Mallikarjun, is a Member of Parliament from the region.