Karnataka MLC polls highlights: BJP, JD(S) MLAs' cross-voting helps Congress secure unexpected fifth seat

Karnataka MLC Election highlights: Cross-voting by three BJP and 7 JD(S) MLAs helped the Congress win an unexpected fifth seat in Karnataka Legislative Council polls. Congress secured five of seven seats, gaining a majority in the 75-member Upper House, while the BJP won two and the JD(S) drew a blank.

Karnataka biennial MLC elections highlights: Polling took place for 7 seats between 9 am and 4 pm on June 18, Couting is currently underway. (AFP)

Karnataka MLC Election highlights: Cross-voting by legislators from the BJP and JD(S) helped the Congress pull off an unexpected victory in Karnataka's biennial Legislative Council elections on Thursday, securing a fifth seat and giving the ruling party a majority in the 75-member Upper House....Read More

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• 18 Jun 2026, 09:26:30 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC polls LIVE updates: The live blog is closed

  Karnataka MLC polls LIVE updates: The will be no further updates on this live blog.

• 18 Jun 2026, 09:25:29 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC polls LIVE updates: Winners' list

  

  Karnataka MLC polls LIVE updates: Take a look at the winners' list and number of votes each got
  
  

• 18 Jun 2026, 08:22:11 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC polls LIVE updates: Congress denies approaching opposition MLAs

  Karnataka MLC polls LIVE updates: CM DK Shivakumar denied approaching legislators from rival parties.

  "I don't know who has voted. They have voted on their conscience. I have not gone to speak to anyone," he said. - Reporting by Arun Dev

• 18 Jun 2026, 08:09:18 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC polls LIVE updates: BJP says action will be taken against those who cross-voted

  Karnataka MLC polls LIVE updates: Leader of the Opposition R Ashok acknowledged that legislators from his party had voted against the BJP.

  "Our candidates have won and we congratulate them. We have three cross votes. We will know who have done and the party will take appropriate action," he said.

  - Reporting by Arun Dev

• 18 Jun 2026, 08:02:45 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC polls LIVE updates: List of winners

  Karnataka MLC polls LIVE updates: Congress candidates BK Hariprasad, PV Mohan, BS Shivanna, Tippannappa Kamakanoor and Vinay Karthik Prakash were elected. Hariprasad secured 30 votes, Mohan 29, Shivanna 30, Kamakanoor 30 and Vinay Karthik 32. Together, the Congress candidates polled 151 votes, 11 more than the 140 votes required to elect five members.

  The BJP's Raghu Kautilya won with 29 votes, while Lingaraj Patil secured 27 votes. The winning quota for a candidate was fixed at 27.63 votes. Although Lingaraj Patil did not reach that figure, he was declared elected in the elimination round. One vote cast for Raghu Kautilya was invalid.

  Govindraju, the JD(S) candidate, received 14 votes.
  
  - Reporting by Arun Dev

• 18 Jun 2026, 08:02:02 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC polls LIVE updates: Cong wins 5 seats, BJP 2

  Karnataka MLC polls LIVE updates: The Congress won five of the seven seats in the election, while the BJP claimed the remaining two. JD(S) candidate Govindraju was defeated.

  The election saw three BJP MLAs and seven JD(S) MLAs vote against their party lines. One BJP MLA's vote was declared invalid.

• 18 Jun 2026, 08:00:29 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC polls LIVE updates: Cross-voting by BJP, JD(S) MLAs help Congress win unexpected 5th seat

  Karnataka MLC polls LIVE updates: A wave of cross voting by legislators from the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular) helped the Congress win an unexpected fifth seat in Karnataka's biennial Legislative Council elections on Thursday, giving the ruling party a majority in the 75 member Upper House and defeating the BJP JD(S) alliance's bid to secure the final seat.

  The Congress won five of the seven seats in the election, while the BJP claimed the remaining two. JD(S) candidate Govindraju was defeated.

  The election saw three BJP MLAs and seven JD(S) MLAs vote against their party lines. One BJP MLA's vote was declared invalid.
  
  - Reporting by Arun Dev

• 18 Jun 2026, 07:53:49 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC polls LIVE updates: BJP wins remaining two seats

  Karnataka MLC polls LIVE updates: The Congress won five of the seven seats in the election, while the BJP claimed the remaining two. JD(S) candidate Govindraju was defeated.
  
  - Inputs from HT reporter Arun Dev

• 18 Jun 2026, 06:46:33 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC polls LIVE updates: Congress secures victory on five seats; counting underway

  Karnataka MLC polls LIVE updates: Congress has secured victory on five seats, counting is still underway. - HT reporter Aruv Dev

• 18 Jun 2026, 06:32:03 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: Congress says it allowed its MLAs to vote as per their own will

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: Speaking to reporters after voting, DK Shivakumar said the Congress had merely interacted with its legislators and ensured that first-time voters were properly guided on the preferential voting system.

  "The voting is over. We have not done any strategy. There is no need for any strategy. The MLAs are aware and intelligent people; they are people's representatives. If they wanted to vote, they would have voted according to their own free will. Why should we do any strategy?" he said. - PTI

• 18 Jun 2026, 05:59:22 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: All 22 MLAs voted, counting still on

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: Polling for the Karnataka Legislative Council biennial elections was been completed at 4 pm today with 100 per cent turnout. All 222 electors cast their votes before the scheduled close of polling. The counting for the same is currently underway.

• 18 Jun 2026, 05:30:23 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: BJP raises objections over conduct of Congress' election agent

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: BJP leader N Ravi Kumar raised objections over alleged conduct inside the polling area, referring to a letter purportedly linked to BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal.

  "Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has written a letter to the BJP National President. He has written a letter saying that he will vote for the BJP. I have that letter; he showed it to me. I want to ask the election agent of the Congress party, or whoever from the opposition, why they are questioning this, as showing such a letter and asking questions is not allowed in the election hall," Kumar said.

  He further added that the role of polling agents is limited to verifying voter lists and not questioning voting intent, alleging that objections raised during the process were unwarranted.

• 18 Jun 2026, 05:05:48 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: Counting begins

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: Counting is underway for the seven seats of the Karnataka Legislative Council after all 222 MLAs cast their votes.

• 18 Jun 2026, 04:58:30 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: DKS says Cong didn’t draw strategy for MLC polls

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE:: Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday dismissed suggestions that the ruling Congress had resorted to any special strategy for the biennial election to the Legislative Council from the Assembly and denied knowledge of any cross-voting by legislators from opposition parties. (PTI)

• 18 Jun 2026, 04:19:01 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: Voting concludes, counting to begin at 5 pm

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: With all 222 Karnataka MLAs casting their votes, polling for the election to seven seats of the Karnataka Legislative Council concluded on Thursday, officials said.

  Voting took place at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, which houses the state legislature and secretariat.

  According to the returning officer, counting of votes will begin at 5 pm.

• 18 Jun 2026, 03:29:32 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: Nearly 96 percent voting recorded till 1 pm

  An estimated 95.50 per cent voting was recorded till 1 pm on Thursday with 212 out of the total 222 MLAs casting their ballots during elections for seven seats of the state Legislative Council, where eight candidates are in the fray. (PTI)

• 18 Jun 2026, 03:14:37 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: BJP to win 2 seats comfortably

  A candidate needs at least 28 votes to secure victory. Based on their current strength in the Assembly, Congress is expected to win four seats and the BJP two, officials said.

  The contest for the seventh seat, however, remains keenly fought, with both Congress and JD(S) fielding candidates despite lacking the numbers to win on their own.

  Amid concerns over possible cross-voting, both parties have housed their MLAs at separate resorts on the outskirts of Bengaluru. (PTI)

• 18 Jun 2026, 02:52:52 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: Congress confident of winning all 5 seats

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: Congress MLA and former minister Santosh Lad expressed confidence in the party's prospects, saying all five Congress candidates would win comfortably in the biennial Council elections.

• 18 Jun 2026, 02:35:54 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: Counting likely to begin at 5 pm

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: Counting of votes for the Karnataka Legislative Council elections is scheduled to begin at 5 pm on Thursday after polling concludes at 4 pm.

• 18 Jun 2026, 02:14:17 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: DK Shivakumar says,' why should we ask for cross-voting'

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: On BJP's allegations of cross-voting, Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar told news agengy ANI, "Why should we ask for cross-voting? It is a confidential vote. Secret ballot vote. Why should one worry? Nobody should worry. It all depends on the leadership and their party ideology. We do not want to get involved in any of the cross-voting. We don't know about it. Let's wait till 6 o'lock and see."

• 18 Jun 2026, 02:12:50 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: DK Shivakumar arrives at Vidhana Soudha to cast vote

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: DK Shivakumar on Thursday arrived at Vidhana Soudha to cast vote.

• 18 Jun 2026, 12:47:49 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: Congress MLA Dinesh Gundurao says, ‘We will win all 5 seats’

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: On Karnataka Legislative Council (MLC) elections, Congress MLA Dinesh Gundurao told ANI, "We will win all 5 seats with our own votes. We took our MLAs yesterday, where mock voting was also held. We have enough numbers."

  On Giriraj Singh's statement on Rahul Gandhi's students' interaction in Kota, he says, "Whenever Rahul Gandhi has taken up the issues of the country, the BJP says he is trying to divide, but later they realise he was right. Unfortunately, the BJP doesn't want to accept anything that Rahul Gandhi says."

• 18 Jun 2026, 12:01:18 PM IST

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: Karnataka CM Shivakumar ensures Dy CM Parameshwara's participation in election, says he will vote at 1 PM

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday visited the residence of Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara in Bengaluru to enquire about his health.

  Speaking to ANI after the visit, CM Shivakumar assured that the Deputy CM has recovered and will be participating in the voting process later today.

  "Dr Parameshwara is fine and healthy. He will come and vote at 1 PM. He is okay and has recovered," said CM DK Shivakumar.

  Following the Chief Minister's visit, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge also arrived at Dr Parameshwara's residence to check on his well-being.

  Voting for 7 seats of the Karnataka Legislative Council began at 9 AM at Vidhana Soudha and will continue till 4 PM.

  Two polling booths have been set up inside the state secretariat to facilitate secret voting by MLAS.

  CCTV cameras have been installed both inside and outside the polling room, and all arrangements for voting have been completed.

  (ANI)

• 18 Jun 2026, 11:28:36 AM IST

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: JD(S) appeals for 'vote of conscience'

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: JD(S), backed by alliance partner BJP, has appealed to legislators across party lines to cast a "vote of conscience" in favour of its candidate Govindaraju.

• 18 Jun 2026, 11:15:23 AM IST

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: ‘Very easily, both our candidates will get elected,’ says BJP MLA Arvind Bellad

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: On the Karnataka Legislative Council (MLC) election, BJP MLA Arvind Bellad told news agency ANI, "... Very easily, both our candidates will get elected... They are our NDA partners, so excess votes will be given to the JDS... Many leaders of Congress themselves will try to make sure that the Congress candidates get defeated. In that way, the new CM has already started facing hurdles, and more problems will be created for him."

• 18 Jun 2026, 10:54:57 AM IST

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: Congress, BJP set for comfortable wins; seventh seat in focus

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: Based on their Assembly strength, Congress is expected to win four seats and BJP two. The key battle is for the seventh seat, where Congress and JD(S) are locked in a fierce contest.

• 18 Jun 2026, 10:41:08 AM IST

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: BJP confident of winning both its seats

  Karnataka MLC Election LIVE: The BJP remains confident of ensuring victories for its two candidates based on its Assembly numbers and held a strategy meeting under Leader of Opposition R Ashoka ahead of polling.

• 18 Jun 2026, 10:18:17 AM IST

  Karnataka biennial MLC elections LIVE: ‘Our two candidates will win,’ says Karnataka LoP R Ashoka on polls

  Karnataka biennial MLC elections LIVE: Karnataka Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka on Thursday expressed confidence regarding the upcoming Legislative Council elections, asserting that the BJP candidate will secure victory.

  Speaking to ANI, R Ashoka has ruled out any possibility of cross-voting among party MLAs.

  "... Our two candidates will win, there is no doubt at all. We have good MLAs in our party; there is no cross-voting. We have to transfer the excess votes to the JDS... I called a meeting today and gave the whip," said R Ashoka.

  Meanwhile, the voting for the biennial elections to seven Legislative Council seats in Karnataka began earlier today, on June 18.

  The polls were necessitated by the upcoming retirement of seven MLCs whose terms conclude on June 30. The outgoing members include Congress's Govindaraju, Naseer Ahmed, Thippannappa, and B.K. Hariprasad, as well as BJP's M.T.B. Nagaraju, Prathap Simha Nayak, and Sunil Vallyapu.
  
  (ANI)

• 18 Jun 2026, 10:16:41 AM IST

  Karnataka biennial MLC elections LIVE: First electoral test for CM D K Shivakumar

  Karnataka biennial MLC elections LIVE: The biennial MLC elections mark the first electoral contest for the ruling Congress since Chief Minister D K Shivakumar assumed office, with the party aiming to secure five of the seven seats.

• 18 Jun 2026, 09:54:26 AM IST

  Karnataka biennial MLC elections LIVE: Voting underway for 7 Karnataka MLC seats

  Karnataka biennial MLC elections LIVE: Voting for 7 seats of the Karnataka Legislative Council began at 9 AM on Thursday at Vidhana Soudha and will continue till 4 PM.

  Two polling booths have been set up inside the state secretariat to facilitate secret voting by MLAs. CCTV cameras have been installed both inside and outside the polling room, and all arrangements for voting have been completed.

  Necessary police security has been deployed at Vidhana Soudha. Results will be announced this evening after voting concludes.
  
  (ANI)

• 18 Jun 2026, 09:51:14 AM IST

  Maharashtra legislative council LIVE: Voting takes place at 7 locations in Jalgaon district

• 18 Jun 2026, 09:48:34 AM IST

  Karnataka biennial MLC elections LIVE: Why the election matters?

  Karnataka biennial MLC elections LIVE: The Karnataka Legislative Council plays a key role in reviewing legislation passed by the Assembly. The retirement of senior leaders such as BK Hariprasad and N Nagaraju has also sparked discussions within parties over nominations, regional representation and caste balance in the next batch of Council members.

• 18 Jun 2026, 09:11:01 AM IST

  Karnataka biennial MLC elections LIVE: ‘Neither a rebel nor a dissident,’ says Basanagouda Patil Yatnal clarifies stance ahead of Karnataka Council polls

  Karnataka biennial MLC elections LIVE: Expelled BJP leader Basanagouda Patil (Yatnal) on Thursday clarified his position regarding the upcoming Karnataka Legislative Council elections.

  In a post on X, Yatnal stated that he has written a formal letter to BJP Karnataka in-charge Nitin Nabin.

  "I have written a letter to BJP leader Shri Nitin Nabin Ji to clarify my position on the upcoming Karnataka Legislative Council Elections. I am neither a dissident nor a rebel in any way and will vote for the party from which I have been elected by the people of Vijayapura," Yatnal stated.

  Patil emphasised that his decision is rooted in political morality rather than a tactical move for a "comeback" within the party hierarchy.

  "I am morally bound to vote for the BJP since I have been elected from their symbol. My vote for the BJP is not a move to make a 'comeback' currently," he added.

  Recently, on June 5, the police detained Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and his supporters during a protest against the Karnataka government's new order allowing school and college students to wear hijab.

  (ANI)

• 18 Jun 2026, 09:09:12 AM IST

  Maharashtra legislative council LIVE: Voting underway for polls to 12 seats in Maharashtra legislative council

  Maharashtra legislative council LIVE: Voting began on Thursday morning for elections to 12 Maharashtra legislative council seats from local authorities' constituencies, with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance seeking to consolidate its position after already securing five seats unopposed.

  Polling commenced at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm. Members of local self-government bodies, including municipal corporations, municipal councils and zilla parishads, are eligible to cast their votes.

  Although elections were notified for 17 seats, contests are being held in 12 constituencies as candidates of the ruling alliance have already been elected unopposed in five seats.
  
  (PTI)

• 18 Jun 2026, 08:58:44 AM IST

  Karnataka Biennial polls LIVE Updates: CCTV cameras installed inside and outside polling room for enhanced security

• 18 Jun 2026, 08:50:23 AM IST

  Karnataka Biennial polls LIVE Updates: Voting today to fill 7 legislative council vacancies

  Karnataka Biennial polls LIVE Updates: The Election Commission of India on Tuesday announced biennial elections to seven seats in the Karnataka Legislative Council, setting the stage for a contest that will test party strength in the Assembly and shape the composition of the Upper House for the next term.

• 18 Jun 2026, 08:23:20 AM IST

  Karnataka Biennial polls LIVE Updates: Who are the outgoing members?

  Karnataka Biennial polls LIVE Updates: Voting by Members of the Legislative Assembly will take place on June 18 to fill vacancies arising from the retirement of seven members whose terms conclude on June 30. The outgoing members are Govinda Raju, Naseer Ahmed, N Nagaraju (MTB), Prathap Simha Nayak K, Tippannappa, Sunil Vallyapur and BK Hariprasad.

• 18 Jun 2026, 08:07:13 AM IST

  Karnataka Biennial polls LIVE Updates: When will polling take place?

  Karnataka Biennial polls LIVE Updates: Polling is scheduled between 9 am and 4 pm on June 18, with counting to begin at 5 pm the same day. The process is to conclude by June 20.

• 18 Jun 2026, 08:00:19 AM IST

  Karnataka Biennial polls LIVE Updates: Why the Election Matters

  Karnataka Biennial polls LIVE Updates: The Karnataka Legislative Council plays a key role in reviewing legislation passed by the Assembly. The retirement of senior leaders such as BK Hariprasad and N Nagaraju has also sparked discussions within parties over nominations, regional representation and caste balance in the next batch of Council members.

• 18 Jun 2026, 07:43:37 AM IST

  Karnataka Biennial polls LIVE Updates: When will voting take place?

  Karnataka Biennial polls LIVE Updates: Voting by Members of the Legislative Assembly will take place today to fill vacancies arising from the retirement of seven members whose terms conclude on June 30.