Karnataka bypolls 2025: BJP leads Davanagere South, Congress ahead in Bagalkot
Synopsis
Karnataka's two Assembly bypolls are delivering a split verdict in early rounds: BJP's Srinivasa T. Dasakariyappa leads in Davanagere South — a seat the party has never won — while Congress's Umesh Meti holds a commanding 5,000-vote cushion in Bagalkot. With Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's political prestige on the line, the final count across 21–23 rounds will determine whether Congress holds its ground or cedes symbolic territory to the BJP.
Key Takeaways
Dasakariyappa leads in Davanagere South with 3,711 votes vs Congress's 3,134 after Round 1.
Congress's Umesh Meti leads in Bagalkot by more than 5,000 votes after Round 2, polling 10,996 against BJP's 5,980 .
Both bypolls were triggered by the deaths of sitting MLAs — Shamanur Shivashankarappa in Davanagere South and H.Y.
A BJP win in Davanagere South would be its first-ever victory in that Assembly segment.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K.
Shivakumar have their political prestige at stake in these results.
Counting involves 21 rounds in Davanagere South and 23 rounds in Bagalkot, with final results expected later in the day.
Counting of votes for two Karnataka Assembly bypolls — Davanagere South and Bagalkot — began on Monday, 4 May 2025, with early trends showing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead in Davanagere South and the ruling Congress leading comfortably in Bagalkot. Both results carry significant political weight for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the state's opposition.
Early Trends: Constituency-Wise Leads
In Davanagere South, BJP candidate Srinivasa T. Dasakariyappa is leading over Congress candidate Samarth Mallikarjun after the first round of counting. Dasakariyappa has polled 3,711 votes against Mallikarjun's 3,134 votes. A total of 21 rounds of counting are scheduled in this constituency.
In Bagalkot, Congress candidate Umesh Meti has surged to a lead of more than 5,000 votes over BJP's Veeranna Charantimath after the second round. Meti has secured 10,996 votes, while Charantimath has polled 5,980 votes. Counting will proceed over 23 rounds across 14 tables.
Why These Bypolls Were Called
The Davanagere South bypoll was necessitated by the death of veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa. The Congress fielded his grandson, Samarth Mallikarjun, as its candidate. The BJP countered with Srinivasa T. Dasakariyappa, described as a party leader from the oppressed classes — a deliberate social outreach move in a constituency the BJP has never won.
In Bagalkot, the bypoll followed the untimely death of sitting MLA H.Y. Meti. His son, Umesh Meti, is contesting on a Congress ticket in what is essentially a sympathy-and-legacy contest. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah campaigned extensively for Meti in the run-up to polling.
Political Stakes for Congress and BJP
The prestige of both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is on the line, particularly in Davanagere South, where Congress is defending its turf against a BJP push. For the BJP, a win in Davanagere South would mark its first-ever victory in that Assembly segment — a symbolic breakthrough in opposition territory.
Notably, the Congress faced internal turbulence ahead of these bypolls: the party removed two MLCs from party positions following allegations of anti-party activities after its candidates were announced. That the party is still leading in Bagalkot despite the internal friction underscores the strength of the Meti legacy vote.
Counting Arrangements and Process
Counting began at 8 am with postal ballots, followed by EVM counting from 8:30 am. In Bagalkot, Bagalkot Deputy Commissioner Sangappa confirmed that 63 counting personnel have been deployed across 14 tables. In Davanagere, Election Officer Santosh Kumar and Deputy Commissioner G.M. Gangadharaswamy reviewed arrangements. Each table has four staff members, including a micro observer, and all tables are under CCTV surveillance. Candidates and election agents arrived at the counting centres by 7 am, and strongrooms were opened in their presence.
Final results are expected after the completion of all counting rounds, with the Bagalkot outcome requiring at least 23 rounds and Davanagere South at least 21 rounds.
Point of View
A strategy that works on sympathy but exposes the party to accusations of dynastic politics. The BJP's calculated nomination of a candidate from the oppressed classes in Davanagere South signals a deliberate social-engineering play in a constituency it has never cracked. If the BJP converts that lead into a win, it will claim a symbolic foothold that could reframe the opposition narrative ahead of future state elections. For Siddaramaiah, losing even one seat from this pair would be a political embarrassment in a state where his government is already navigating internal dissent.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Karnataka bypoll results on 4 May 2025?
Early counting trends show BJP's Srinivasa T. Dasakariyappa leading in Davanagere South with 3,711 votes after Round 1, while Congress's Umesh Meti holds a 5,000-plus vote lead in Bagalkot after Round 2. Final results are expected after 21 and 23 rounds of counting respectively.
Why were the Karnataka 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 death of sitting MLA H.Y. Meti. Both seats required fresh elections under Election Commission rules.
Who are the main candidates in the Karnataka bypolls?
In Davanagere South, BJP's Srinivasa T. Dasakariyappa is contesting against Congress's Samarth Mallikarjun, grandson of the late Shamanur Shivashankarappa. In Bagalkot, Congress's Umesh Meti — son of the late H.Y. Meti — faces BJP's Veeranna Charantimath.
Why are these Karnataka bypoll results politically significant?
A BJP win in Davanagere South would be its first-ever victory in that segment, representing a symbolic breakthrough. For Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, losing either seat would be a political setback, as both leaders campaigned actively for Congress candidates.
How is the counting process being conducted for the Karnataka bypolls?
Postal ballot counting began before 8 am, with EVM counting starting at 8:30 am. In Bagalkot, 63 personnel are deployed across 14 tables under CCTV surveillance. Each table has four staff including a micro observer. Davanagere South requires 21 rounds and Bagalkot 23 rounds for a final result.
