Karnataka CM Shivakumar visits Tirupati after Congress sweeps MLC polls
Synopsis
Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar made his first visit to Tirupati since taking office, days after Congress swept all five MLC seats it contested — and reportedly picked up cross-votes from three BJP and six JD(S) MLAs. With cabinet expansion next on the agenda, the pilgrimage signals both gratitude and political intent.
Key Takeaways
Shivakumar and wife Usha Shivakumar offered prayers at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, Tirumala on 19 June .
This was Shivakumar's first visit to Tirupati since assuming the Chief Minister's office.
Congress won all five seats it contested in the Karnataka Legislative Council elections; BJP won two, JD(S) won none.
Congress reportedly secured 11 additional votes , including from 3 BJP and 6 JD(S) MLAs who cross-voted.
Fifth Congress candidate Vinay Karthik polled 32 votes , the highest among Congress candidates.
Shivakumar is set to chair high-level meetings on cabinet expansion and guarantee scheme verification upon returning to Bengaluru.
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, accompanied by his wife Usha Shivakumar, offered prayers at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala on Friday, 19 June, days after the Indian National Congress (INC) swept all five seats it contested in the Karnataka Legislative Council elections. This marks Shivakumar's first visit to the revered hill shrine since assuming office as Chief Minister.
The Tirumala Visit
The Chief Minister and his wife had darshan of Lord Venkateswara during the early hours of Friday. Temple authorities from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) received the couple and facilitated their visit. Following the darshan, officials presented them with prasadam and traditional honours.
According to sources, Shivakumar made the pilgrimage to seek divine blessings ahead of the politically sensitive task of cabinet expansion. He was scheduled to return to Bengaluru by special flight to chair a series of high-level meetings, including one on the verification of the state government's guarantee schemes.
The MLC Election Results
The visit follows a significant political victory for the Congress in Karnataka. In Legislative Council elections held for seven seats, all five Congress candidates emerged victorious, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured two seats and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partner, the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)), failed to win any seat.
Notably, Congress secured 11 additional votes beyond its expected tally, reportedly including support from three BJP MLAs and six JD(S) MLAs who crossed party lines. The fifth Congress candidate, Vinay Karthik — a close associate and reportedly a distant relative of Shivakumar — polled 32 votes, the highest among all five Congress candidates, despite being added to the list after the initial four were announced.
What Shivakumar Said
Speaking after the results on Thursday, Shivakumar said the outcome reflected growing public confidence in his government. 'I am surprised by the level of support our government has received from legislators. It sends a clear message that the people are with us and that MLAs have supported us across party lines. Our MLAs remained united and stood by the party. I want to assure them that I will uphold the trust they have placed in us. This is a government of the people, and we will continue to serve the people. This strength has been given to us by the people,' he said.
Political Implications
The result is widely seen as a boost for Shivakumar and a setback for both the BJP and the JD(S). It is particularly significant for JD(S) leader and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who had reportedly treated the election as a matter of personal prestige and publicly challenged Shivakumar ahead of the vote.
Meanwhile, the Congress government's decision to conduct verification of its guarantee schemes has drawn opposition criticism, with rivals alleging the exercise is designed to curtail the schemes rather than strengthen them. With the MLC win reinforcing the party's legislative standing, Shivakumar now heads into cabinet expansion talks from a position of renewed political strength.
Point of View
And the fallout for the BJP-JD(S) seat-sharing calculus ahead of future elections deserves closer scrutiny than the pilgrimage itself.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Karnataka CM Shivakumar visit Tirupati?
Shivakumar visited the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala on 19 June to offer prayers following Congress's sweep of all five seats in the Karnataka Legislative Council elections. According to sources, he also sought blessings ahead of the politically sensitive cabinet expansion exercise.
What were the Karnataka MLC election results?
Of the seven Legislative Council seats contested, Congress won all five seats it fielded candidates for, BJP secured two, and JD(S) failed to win any. Congress reportedly received 11 additional votes beyond its expected count, including cross-votes from BJP and JD(S) MLAs.
Who is Vinay Karthik and why is his win significant?
Vinay Karthik was the fifth Congress candidate, added to the list after the initial four were announced. He is considered a close associate and reportedly a distant relative of CM Shivakumar. He polled 32 votes — the highest among all five Congress candidates — making his inclusion a political masterstroke.
What is the controversy over Karnataka's guarantee scheme verification?
The Congress government's decision to verify its guarantee schemes has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition, which alleges the verification process is a pretext to curtail or stop the welfare guarantees. The CM is scheduled to chair a high-level meeting on the matter after returning from Tirupati.
How does the MLC result affect H.D. Kumaraswamy and JD(S)?
JD(S) leader and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had publicly treated the MLC election as a prestige contest against CM Shivakumar. JD(S) winning no seats is a significant setback for Kumaraswamy personally and raises questions about the cohesion of the BJP-JD(S) NDA alliance in Karnataka.
