Karnataka Council polls: BJP confident of 2 seats, surplus votes to JD(S)
Synopsis
With 64 votes secured and surplus preferences routed to NDA ally JD(S), the BJP entered Karnataka's Legislative Council count confident of winning both its seats. But an expelled MLA's dramatic appearance at the polling booth — and a Congress bid to block his vote — underscored how fractious the party's internal dynamics remain even on election day.
Key Takeaways
Ashoka declared the BJP secured 64 votes in the Karnataka Legislative Council polls on 18 June .
BJP candidates Lingaraj Patil and R.
Raghu Kautilya received the required first-preference votes; a surplus of 3–4 first-preference votes and around 60 second-preference votes were transferred to the JD(S) NDA candidate.
Senior JD(S) MLA G.T.
Deve Gowda voted independently; Ashoka said he was unaware of Gowda's choice.
Expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal was allowed to vote after the Election Officer rejected a Congress objection raised by V.S.
BJP State President B.Y.
Vijayendra and party leaders publicly backed both candidates after polling concluded.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, R. Ashoka, on Thursday, 18 June declared that the party's two candidates would win the Karnataka Legislative Council elections, stating the BJP had secured adequate first-preference votes to guarantee both victories.
BJP's Vote Count and Strategy
Speaking to reporters after casting his vote at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, Ashoka said all BJP legislators had followed party directions without exception. 'All our MLAs, including Janardhana Reddy and Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, have cast their votes in line with the instructions and appeal of the BJP. In total, we have secured 64 votes. There should be no doubt about the victory of our two candidates,' he said.
Ashoka confirmed that BJP candidates Lingaraj Patil and R. Raghu Kautilya had received the required first-preference votes, with a surplus of three to four first-preference votes transferred to the Janata Dal (Secular) candidate. Approximately 60 second-preference votes were also allotted to the JD(S) nominee, who is the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate in the contest.
NDA Alliance Coordination
'Our objective is to ensure the victory of the JD(S) candidate, who is the NDA nominee,' Ashoka said, underlining the coordinated vote-transfer strategy between the BJP and JD(S) as part of their broader alliance calculus. This is a standard preference-vote management exercise in Legislative Council elections, where surplus votes from a stronger partner are routed to shore up an allied candidate's tally.
Notably, when asked about senior JD(S) MLA G.T. Deve Gowda, Ashoka said he was unaware of how the legislator had voted. 'G.T. Deve Gowda came alone and cast his vote. I do not know whom he voted for,' he said — a remark that signals potential uncertainty within the NDA camp about full compliance.
High Drama Over Expelled MLA's Vote
The polling session was briefly disrupted when expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal arrived to cast his ballot. Congress leader V.S. Ugrappa, present at the polling station, raised a formal objection, arguing that Yatnal had publicly written a letter declaring his voting intention in advance, which Ugrappa contended should disqualify the ballot. He urged the Returning Officer to bar Yatnal's vote from entering the ballot box.
BJP polling agents N. Ravi Kumar and K.S. Naveen strongly contested the objection. After deliberation, the Election Officer rejected Ugrappa's challenge and permitted Yatnal to vote. It was reported that Yatnal had written to BJP National President Nitin Nabin pledging support for the party's candidate — a letter that Congress sought to use as grounds for disqualification but which the Election Officer did not find sufficient.
BJP Leadership Rallies Behind Candidates
After polling concluded, BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra, along with Ashoka, Legislative Council Leader of the Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, and BJP MLAs, publicly extended best wishes to candidates Lingaraj Patil and R. Raghu Kautilya. The BJP leadership reaffirmed its confidence in both candidates winning and reiterated the party's commitment to the NDA's overall Council poll strategy.
The outcome of the Karnataka Legislative Council election will be a key indicator of how effectively the BJP-JD(S) alliance can coordinate on the ground ahead of future electoral contests in the state.
Point of View
Alliance discipline is everything, and even one stray senior MLA can upset calculations. The Congress attempt to disqualify Yatnal's vote, while unsuccessful, signals the opposition is watching for procedural leverage wherever it can find it. The real story here is not the BJP's confidence — it is whether the JD(S) candidate clears the bar, which will determine how much actual value the seat-sharing deal delivered to both partners.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many votes did the BJP secure in the Karnataka Legislative Council election?
The BJP secured 64 votes in the Karnataka Legislative Council polls held on 18 June, according to Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka. He expressed full confidence that both BJP candidates — Lingaraj Patil and R. Raghu Kautilya — would win their seats.
Why did the BJP transfer surplus votes to JD(S) in the Karnataka Council polls?
The BJP transferred surplus first-preference votes and around 60 second-preference votes to the JD(S) candidate because JD(S) is the NDA ally in the Karnataka Council election. This is a standard preference-vote management tactic in multi-seat Legislative Council contests to maximise the alliance's overall seat tally.
What was the controversy involving expelled MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal at the polling booth?
Congress leader V.S. Ugrappa objected to expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal casting his vote, arguing that Yatnal had publicly declared his voting intention in a letter to BJP National President Nitin Nabin. The Election Officer rejected the objection and allowed Yatnal to vote.
Who are the BJP candidates in the Karnataka Legislative Council election?
The BJP fielded Lingaraj Patil and R. Raghu Kautilya as its candidates in the Karnataka Legislative Council polls. Both received the required first-preference votes, according to R. Ashoka.
What is the significance of the Karnataka Legislative Council election result for the NDA?
The result will test how effectively the BJP-JD(S) alliance can coordinate on vote transfers and maintain legislator discipline. A clean win for both BJP seats and the JD(S) candidate would validate the NDA's alliance strategy in Karnataka ahead of future electoral contests in the state.
