Karnataka Legislative Council polls: 7 seats up for vote on June 18
Synopsis
Karnataka's upper house is heading to a vote. Seven Legislative Council seats — vacated by the retirement of four Congress and three BJP members — go to polls on June 18 at Vidhana Soudha. With nominations closing June 8 and results due by June 20, the contest will test each party's floor strength in the state's upper chamber.
Key Takeaways
Elections notified for 7 vacant seats in the Karnataka Legislative Council on 1 June 2025 .
Polling scheduled for 18 June between 9 am and 4 pm IST at Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru ; results by 20 June .
Vacancies created by retirement of 4 Congress and 3 BJP members.
Last date for nominations is June 8 ; withdrawal deadline is June 11 .
Each candidate needs signatures of at least 10 sitting MLAs ; deposit of ₹5,000 (SC/ST) or ₹10,000 (others).
Elections have been formally notified to fill seven vacant seats in the Karnataka Legislative Council, with polling scheduled for 18 June if required. The election notification was issued by Karnataka Legislative Assembly Secretary and Returning Officer M.K. Vishalakshi on Monday, 1 June, setting in motion a tightly scheduled electoral process at Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru.
Why the Seats Fell Vacant
The seven vacancies arose following the retirement of sitting Council members: Govindaraju (Indian National Congress), Naseer Ahmed (Congress), M.T.B. Nagaraj (Bharatiya Janata Party), Pratap Simha Nayak (BJP), Tippannappa Kamakanoor (Congress), Sunil Valyapure (BJP), and B.K. Hariprasad (Congress). Of the seven outgoing members, four belonged to the Congress and three to the BJP — a composition that will shape each party's nomination calculus.
Election Schedule at a Glance
The nomination process commenced immediately upon notification. June 8 is the last date for filing nominations, with scrutiny of nomination papers set for June 9. Candidates wishing to withdraw their candidature must do so by June 11. Polling, if required, will be conducted on June 18 between 9 am and 4 pm IST at Room No. 106, First Floor, Vidhana Soudha. Vote counting begins the same day at 5 pm, and the entire election process is scheduled to conclude by June 20.
Process and Candidate Requirements
M.K. Vishalakshi will serve as the Election Officer, with Karnataka Legislative Assembly Director B.S. Mahalingesh as Assistant Election Officer. Candidates must submit nominations in Form D, supported by the signatures of a minimum of 10 sitting MLAs. Candidates from the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe categories are required to deposit ₹5,000, while all other candidates must deposit ₹10,000 at the time of nomination.
Political Significance
The election assumes added significance amid ongoing political developments in Karnataka. The outcome of these seven seats could influence the balance of power in the Legislative Council, where the ruling Congress holds a majority in the Assembly but dynamics in the upper house are more contested. Major parties are expected to field candidates in proportion to their legislative strength. This is the Legislative Council's first batch of by-elections since the current state government took charge, and the results will be closely watched as an indicator of floor management and inter-party negotiations. Further details on candidate nominations from individual parties are expected in the coming days.
Point of View
But the Karnataka Legislative Council contest is a quiet stress test for the ruling Congress. Winning back the four seats its own retiring members vacated is the floor — anything less would signal cracks in party discipline. The BJP, meanwhile, has an opening to consolidate its three outgoing seats and potentially poach a fourth, leveraging any dissent within Congress ranks. Legislative Council elections are won on MLA signatures, not public votes, making backroom management the real contest. Watch the nomination list closely: it will reveal more about intra-party health than any public statement will.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Karnataka Legislative Council election 2025?
Polling for the seven vacant Karnataka Legislative Council seats is scheduled for 18 June 2025 , between 9 am and 4 pm IST at Room No. 106, First Floor, Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru. Vote counting begins the same evening at 5 pm, with the process concluding by 20 June.
Why are seven Karnataka Legislative Council seats vacant?
The seven seats fell vacant following the scheduled retirement of sitting members: Govindaraju, Naseer Ahmed, Tippannappa Kamakanoor, and B.K. Hariprasad of the Congress, and M.T.B. Nagaraj, Pratap Simha Nayak, and Sunil Valyapure of the BJP.
What is the nomination process for the Karnataka MLC elections?
Candidates must file nominations in Form D by June 8 , with scrutiny on June 9 and the withdrawal deadline on June 11. Each nomination must be supported by the signatures of at least 10 sitting MLAs, and candidates must pay a deposit of ₹5,000 (SC/ST) or ₹10,000 (general category).
Who is overseeing the Karnataka Legislative Council election?
Karnataka Legislative Assembly Secretary M.K. Vishalakshi is the Returning Officer and Election Officer. B.S. Mahalingesh , Director of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, is the Assistant Election Officer.
How are Karnataka Legislative Council members elected?
Karnataka Legislative Council members in this category are elected by sitting MLAs of the state Legislative Assembly, not by the general public. Candidates need a minimum of 10 MLA signatures to file nominations, making floor management and party discipline the decisive factor.
