Karnataka bypolls: Congress leads in Davanagere South, Bagalkot after vote count
Synopsis
Congress is on course to sweep both Karnataka bypolls on 4 May, with Umesh Meti holding a commanding 15,235-vote lead in Bagalkot and Samarth Mallikarjun overturning an early BJP advantage in Davanagere South. The results would be a personal victory for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, whose political capital was directly staked on both seats.
Key Takeaways
Congress is leading in both Davanagere South and Bagalkot Assembly bypolls as of 4 May 2025 .
In Davanagere South , Congress candidate Samarth Mallikarjun leads BJP's Srinivasa T.
Dasakariyappa by 3,986 votes after the 9th round.
In Bagalkot , Congress candidate Umesh Meti leads BJP's Veeranna Charantimath by 15,235 votes after the 19th round, with only 4 rounds remaining.
Both seats fell vacant due to the deaths of sitting Congress MLAs; both parties fielded family members or loyalists.
The prestige of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K.
Shivakumar is directly linked to the Congress outcome.
The Indian National Congress is leading in both Davanagere South and Bagalkot Assembly segments in Karnataka as vote counting for the two bypolls progressed on Monday, 4 May, with celebrations breaking out among Congress workers in Bagalkot where the party's candidate holds a margin of over 15,000 votes.
Current Standings After Latest Rounds
In Davanagere South, Congress candidate Samarth Mallikarjun is leading with 30,530 votes against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Srinivasa T. Dasakariyappa, who has polled 26,544 votes — a Congress lead of 3,986 votes after the ninth round of counting. The constituency has a total of 21 rounds of counting.
In Bagalkot, Congress candidate Umesh Meti has secured 78,482 votes against BJP's Veeranna Charantimath, who has polled 63,607 votes, giving Meti a lead of 15,235 votes after the 19th round. Only four rounds remain in a total of 23 rounds, prompting Congress workers to begin celebrations.
Why These Bypolls Were Called
The Bagalkot bypoll was necessitated by the untimely demise of sitting MLA H.Y. Meti. His son, Umesh Meti, was fielded by Congress and is in a direct contest against BJP's Veeranna Charantimath. The Davanagere South seat fell vacant following the death of veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa. The party chose his grandson, Samarth Mallikarjun, as its candidate, while the BJP nominated Srinivasa T. Dasakariyappa, described as a leader from the oppressed classes.
High Political Stakes for Both Parties
The results carry significant political weight for both the ruling Congress and the Opposition BJP. The prestige of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is closely tied to the outcome, with Siddaramaiah having campaigned extensively in Bagalkot for Umesh Meti. For the BJP, Davanagere South represents an opportunity to record its first-ever win in that segment.
Notably, Congress faced internal turbulence ahead of the Davanagere South bypoll — the party removed two MLCs from their positions following allegations of anti-party activities after the candidate announcement. Despite the initial setback in early counting rounds — when BJP briefly led by 3,925 votes in Davanagere South — Congress has since reversed the trend.
Counting Logistics and Administration
Vote counting began at 8 am IST and is being conducted across 14 tables in Bagalkot, with a total of 63 counting personnel deployed. Bagalkot Deputy Commissioner Sangappa confirmed that all preparations were in place. In Davanagere, Election Officer Santosh Kumar and Deputy Commissioner G.M. Gangadharaswamy reviewed arrangements, with the strongroom opened in the presence of candidates' agents.
With only a handful of rounds remaining in both constituencies, final results are expected shortly — and the outcome is set to shape the political narrative in Karnataka ahead of future electoral contests.
Point of View
And a sweep would reinforce his grip on the state ahead of local body elections. The BJP's inability to hold its early lead in Davanagere South — a seat it was hoping to win for the first time — reflects the party's continued struggle to mount a coherent state-level challenge. What deserves scrutiny is Congress's internal discipline: the removal of two MLCs for anti-party activities signals that factional fault lines have not been sealed, even as the party appears headed for a comfortable double win.
NationPress
4 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Karnataka bypoll results on 4 May 2025?
As of the latest counting rounds on 4 May 2025, Congress is leading in both Davanagere South and Bagalkot Assembly segments. Samarth Mallikarjun leads by 3,986 votes in Davanagere South and Umesh Meti leads by 15,235 votes in Bagalkot, with counting still ongoing.
Why were bypolls held in Davanagere South and Bagalkot?
The Davanagere South bypoll was necessitated by the death of veteran Congress MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa, while the Bagalkot bypoll followed the untimely demise of sitting MLA H.Y. Meti. Both parties fielded candidates with close ties to the deceased legislators.
Who are the Congress and BJP candidates in these bypolls?
In Davanagere South, Congress fielded Samarth Mallikarjun, grandson of the late Shamanur Shivashankarappa, against BJP's Srinivasa T. Dasakariyappa. In Bagalkot, Congress nominated Umesh Meti, son of the late H.Y. Meti, against BJP's Veeranna Charantimath.
Why are these bypolls politically significant?
The results are seen as a test of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar's political standing in Karnataka. A Congress win in both seats would strengthen the ruling party's position, while a BJP win in Davanagere South would mark the party's first-ever victory in that constituency.
How is the counting process being conducted?
Counting began at 8 am IST on 4 May across 14 tables in Bagalkot, with 63 counting personnel deployed. Bagalkot has 23 rounds of counting in total, while Davanagere South has 21 rounds. Officials confirmed all arrangements were in place before the strongrooms were opened.
