Karnataka Council polls: NDA files nominations, Vijayendra confident of winning all 4 seats
Synopsis
The NDA in Karnataka officially opened its Legislative Council campaign on Monday with a padyatra through Bengaluru, invoking the KPSC scam to appeal to teachers and graduates. With BJP's Vijayendra and JD(S)'s Kumaraswamy projecting a sweep of all four seats, the contest is shaping up as a credibility test for the state's principal opposition alliance.
Key Takeaways
Ranganath filed NDA nomination papers for the Karnataka Legislative Council elections on 5 October 2026 .
A padyatra was held from Lalbagh to the Regional Commissioner's office, Shantinagar , before the filing.
BJP State President B.Y.
Vijayendra expressed confidence of winning all four NDA-contested seats.
Kumaraswamy cited the KPSC scam as a key factor likely to swing teachers and graduates toward the NDA.
NDA candidates Namashi and Sankanoor were set to file their nominations on Tuesday .
BJP and JD(S) leaders held a joint strategy meeting after the nomination drive.
NDA candidates K.M. Suresh and A.P. Ranganath on Monday, 5 October filed their nomination papers for the Karnataka Legislative Council elections, kicking off the alliance's formal campaign push in Bengaluru. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President B.Y. Vijayendra expressed full confidence that the NDA would capture all four seats up for grabs.
How the Nominations Unfolded
Suresh, contesting from the South-East Graduates' constituency, and Ranganath, the candidate from the Bengaluru Teachers' constituency, led a padyatra from Lalbagh to the Regional Commissioner's office in Shantinagar, where they formally submitted their papers. Senior party leadership, including Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, were present alongside BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) MPs, MLAs, and MLCs.
What Vijayendra and Kumaraswamy Said
Addressing the media after the filing, Vijayendra described the electoral atmosphere as favourable and underscored the resolve of the coalition's cadre. 'We are working with the determination to win the elections along with the leaders and workers of the JD(S). The dignity and sanctity of the Legislative Council must be protected. Good candidates like these should get elected,' he said. Vijayendra added that the remaining two NDA candidates — Namashi and Sankanoor — were scheduled to file their nominations on Tuesday.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel and JD(S) State President H.D. Kumaraswamy echoed the confidence, saying the alliance was prepared to contest all four seats unitedly. 'We are confident that we will fight unitedly and that the NDA candidates will emerge victorious in these two seats. There will be elections for two more seats, and we are confident of winning those seats as well,' Kumaraswamy said.
KPSC Scam as a Campaign Flashpoint
Kumaraswamy argued that the NDA's record in the education sector during the previous BJP-JD(S) coalition government would resonate with voters in the Teachers' and Graduates' constituencies. He specifically invoked the KPSC scam — a recruitment irregularity controversy that has dogged the current ruling establishment — asserting that teachers and graduates would back NDA candidates in protest against the state government. The framing signals that the alliance intends to make accountability in public employment a central theme of its campaign.
What Comes Next
With the remaining two candidates set to file on Tuesday, the NDA's full slate will be in place ahead of the polling date. BJP and JD(S) leaders held a joint strategy meeting later in the day to coordinate their Legislative Council campaign. The results will be closely watched as a barometer of the NDA's organisational strength in Karnataka ahead of future electoral cycles.
Point of View
Where outcomes hinge on niche electorates rather than mass mobilisation. Kumaraswamy's pivot to the KPSC scam is tactically sharp: it reframes a state-government accountability failure as a personal affront to the very voters who will cast ballots here. Whether that framing holds under scrutiny depends on how credibly the NDA can distinguish its own record in public recruitment. The four-seat sweep claim is also a double-edged sword — it raises the political stakes of any single loss.
NationPress
5 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which seats are NDA candidates contesting in the Karnataka Legislative Council elections?
The NDA is contesting four seats in the Karnataka Legislative Council elections. K.M. Suresh is the candidate from the South-East Graduates' constituency and A.P. Ranganath from the Bengaluru Teachers' constituency , with Namashi and Sankanoor set to file for the remaining two seats.
What is the KPSC scam and why is it relevant to these elections?
The KPSC (Karnataka Public Service Commission) scam refers to alleged irregularities in government recruitment that have become a controversy for the current state ruling establishment. JD(S) State President H.D. Kumaraswamy has cited it as a reason why teachers and graduates — the primary voters in these constituencies — may back NDA candidates in opposition to the ruling government.
Who were present at the nomination filing for the NDA in Bengaluru?
Senior NDA leaders including BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra , Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka , Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy , and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy were present, along with BJP and JD(S) MPs, MLAs, and MLCs.
When will the remaining NDA candidates file their nominations?
NDA candidates Namashi and Sankanoor were scheduled to file their nomination papers on Tuesday, 6 October , completing the alliance's full slate for the Karnataka Legislative Council elections.
Why are the Teachers' and Graduates' constituencies significant in Karnataka politics?
These constituencies have a specialised electorate comprising registered teachers and graduates rather than the general public, making them sensitive to education-sector policy and governance. Kumaraswamy argued that the NDA's record in education during its previous coalition government, combined with discontent over the KPSC scam, gives the alliance a structural advantage in these seats.
