Polling for seven Karnataka Legislative Council (MLC) seats commenced at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Thursday, 18 June, with both the ruling Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)–Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) alliance on high alert over possible cross-voting by legislators. The election has rapidly escalated into a prestige battle, with the contest for the seventh and final seat emerging as the decisive flashpoint.

The Flashpoint: Seventh Seat Up for Grabs

Eight candidates are contesting for seven seats. While four Congress nominees and two BJP nominees are widely expected to win comfortably, the battle for the last seat is intensely competitive. The contest is effectively between Congress's fifth candidate, Vinay Karthik, and the NDA-backed K. Govindaraju, fielded by the JD(S)–BJP alliance. The outcome is expected to hinge on surplus votes and the direction of any cross-voting.

What the JD(S) Rebel Said

Senior JD(S) legislator G.T. Deve Gowda, who has maintained distance from the party leadership in recent months and is associated with former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, drew immediate attention after casting his vote. When asked whether he had supported the JD(S) candidate, he declined to confirm, saying: 'Everyone contacts everyone. I do not have any negative feelings about anything that has happened.' Pressed further on whether the JD(S) candidate would win, Deve Gowda said: 'How can anyone know who will win? Everyone will cast their votes according to their conscience. The result will be known later. I have voted as per my conscience.'

His remarks are being widely read as a signal that he may have backed the Congress candidate, making him a figure of intense political scrutiny on polling day.

How Both Sides Are Managing Their Numbers

Congress, which holds the largest bloc in the assembly, has reportedly distributed its votes with precision — each of its four official candidates is expected to receive between 28 and 30 votes. Around 120 Congress MLAs have reportedly been directed to give their second preferential vote to Vinay Karthik, the party's fifth candidate. There is also speculation that some JD(S) legislators may back Karthik through cross-voting.

To pre-empt defections, Congress shifted all its MLAs to a resort in Bidadi, where training sessions and mock voting exercises were conducted ahead of polling day.

On the other side, Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy reportedly held meetings with JD(S) legislators until late Wednesday night at a resort near Bengaluru International Airport in Devanahalli, working to hold the party's 18 MLAs together. The BJP also issued a whip to its legislators during a breakfast meeting at the office of Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka before polling began.

Candidates Speak, Yatnal Writes

BJP candidate Raghu Kautilya expressed confidence, saying: 'A strategy has been worked out to ensure the victory of both BJP candidates. Votes have been allocated appropriately, and proper planning has been done. All MLAs have responded positively, and the party is united. There is no cause for concern.'

Fellow BJP candidate Lingaraj Patil echoed that confidence: 'I am happy and confident that I will be elected. All the MLAs know me and are aware of my work. The votes have been allocated, and both Raghu Kautilya and I will win. There should be no doubt about that.'

Patil also addressed expelled BJP legislator Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, saying: 'Yatnal is my friend. There may be differences, but I believe he will vote for me.' Yatnal, for his part, had written to BJP National President Nitin Nabin ahead of the election, stating he was elected as a BJP legislator and would vote for the party's candidate. In his letter, Yatnal clarified that his political struggle was not against the BJP but against family-based politics.

Polling Logistics and What Comes Next

Voting is being held at the polling booth set up in Room No. 106 of the Vidhana Soudha and continued until 4 pm. CCTV cameras have been installed both inside and outside the polling station to ensure transparency. The election is conducted through a secret ballot system. Congress has fielded B.K. Hariprasad, Tippannappa Kamaknoor, P.V. Mohan, Shivanna Malavalli, and Vinay Karthik. The BJP's nominees are Lingaraj Patil and Raghu Kautilya, while K. Govindaraju contests as the NDA candidate backed by the JD(S)–BJP alliance. Counting and results are expected to reveal whether the extraordinary floor management by both sides was enough to hold their numbers in line.