Karnataka Congress MLC poll rout: Siddaramaiah vs Shivakumar factions clash
Synopsis
Karnataka's ruling Congress didn't just lose all four MLC seats to the NDA — it then turned on itself. With 26 MLAs in one constituency and still no win, the Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar camps are now publicly demanding resignations and temple oaths, exposing a fractured ruling coalition at its most vulnerable.
Key Takeaways
The NDA swept all 4 MLC seats in Karnataka — BJP won three, JD(S) one — handing the ruling Congress a clean-sweep defeat.
Rajanna (Siddaramaiah camp) blamed the sting operation controversy and internal confusion for the loss.
Balakrishna (Shivakumar camp) accused Rajanna and his son of anti-party activities and demanded disciplinary action.
Congress held 26 MLAs in the South East Graduates' constituency spanning 35 Assembly segments — yet still lost the seat.
Balakrishna alleged Rajanna's son was photographed with JD(S) leader H.D.
Kumaraswamy before results were declared.
Party leadership has yet to officially respond; letters seeking disciplinary action are reportedly being prepared.
The ruling Indian National Congress in Karnataka is facing a sharp internal breakdown after suffering a clean sweep defeat on all four seats in the recently concluded Legislative Council (MLC) elections, with supporters of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar trading public accusations on Tuesday, 3 November 2026. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) swept all four contested seats — the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) winning three and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) taking one — in what critics are calling a significant setback for the Congress government.
How the Blame War Began
Congress MLA and former minister K.N. Rajanna, a close associate of Siddaramaiah, pointed to the ongoing sting operation controversy as a key factor behind the party's poor showing. He noted that voters in graduates' and teachers' constituencies — the demographic that participated in these MLC polls — were politically aware and likely registered their displeasure through the ballot.
Rajanna drew attention to the South East Graduates' constituency, which spans 35 Assembly segments across five districts, including Tumakuru. Despite Congress holding 26 MLAs in the region, the party failed to win the seat. 'We have 26 MLAs in the South East Constituency where the election was held for the MLC post, and despite that, we have suffered defeat. What does this indicate? There is confusion,' Rajanna said. He went further, suggesting that if accountability were applied fairly, all 26 MLAs, including himself, should resign.
Shivakumar Camp Fires Back
Municipal Administration Minister H.C. Balakrishna, a known loyalist of Chief Minister Shivakumar, hit back sharply. He alleged that neither Rajanna nor his son — a sitting Congress MLC — had worked for the party's candidates during the election campaign, and instead engaged in what he described as anti-party activities.
Balakrishna claimed that Rajanna and his son had been photographed with Union Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy even before the results were declared — an allegation that, if accurate, would be a serious breach of party discipline. 'Let them take a pledge and tell the truth about whether they worked for the party during the elections. Let them come to a temple and take an oath. I will also come. I challenge them,' Balakrishna said.
The minister demanded formal disciplinary action against Rajanna, warning that inaction would cost the party in future contests. 'Those who work against the party must be punished,' he said, adding that letters would be submitted to the party leadership.
The Sting Operation Backdrop
The internal feud is playing out against the backdrop of a sting operation controversy that has already put the Karnataka Congress on the back foot. Rajanna contended that this episode specifically hurt the party's credibility with the educated electorate that votes in MLC polls for graduates' and teachers' constituencies. Notably, the Congress entered the elections with a significant legislative majority in the relevant region, making the defeat more difficult to explain on organisational grounds alone.
What This Means for Karnataka Congress
The public spat reflects a deepening fault line between the two power centres within Karnataka Congress — a tension that has persisted since the party formed the government. The MLC poll result has provided each faction with a convenient vehicle to press its case. Analysts note this is not the first time rival camps have used an electoral setback to escalate internal positioning ahead of future leadership contests.
With the Congress leadership yet to respond officially, all eyes are on whether the party's central command intervenes to contain the fallout or allows the blame war to play out, with potential consequences for governance stability in the state.
Point of View
The problem is less about messaging and more about loyalty. The fact that the Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar camps are now fighting publicly rather than post-mortems privately suggests neither faction trusts the other enough to handle accountability internally. The sting operation controversy is a convenient explanation, but the deeper story is that Karnataka Congress is governing as two parties under one roof — and MLC polls, which reward organisation over voter volume, have exposed exactly that.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Karnataka MLC elections?
The NDA won all four seats in the recently held Karnataka Legislative Council elections — BJP took three and JD(S) one. The ruling Congress, despite holding government in the state, failed to win a single seat, triggering sharp internal recriminations.
Why are Congress leaders blaming each other after the MLC defeat?
Supporters of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar have publicly accused each other of failing to campaign for party candidates and engaging in anti-party activities. The defeat exposed a pre-existing factional divide between the two power centres in Karnataka Congress.
What did K.N. Rajanna say about the election loss?
Rajanna attributed the defeat partly to the sting operation controversy, saying educated voters in graduates' and teachers' constituencies may have expressed dissatisfaction through their votes. He also noted that Congress held 26 MLAs in the South East constituency but still lost, and suggested all 26, including himself, should take responsibility.
What did H.C. Balakrishna allege against Rajanna?
Minister Balakrishna alleged that Rajanna and his son — a Congress MLC — did not work for party candidates and instead engaged in anti-party activities. He also claimed they were photographed with JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy before results were declared, and demanded formal disciplinary action from the party leadership.
What is the sting operation controversy linked to the Karnataka Congress?
The sting operation controversy is an ongoing episode that has affected the Congress government's public image in Karnataka. Rajanna argued it was particularly damaging in MLC elections because the voter base — graduates and teachers — is politically analytical and may have penalised the party for the controversy at the ballot box.
