Sringeri recount: BJP demands immediate result, alleges Congress pressure on poll officials
Synopsis
Two years after the 2023 Karnataka elections, the Sringeri Assembly seat remains undeclared — its fate hanging on a court-ordered postal ballot recount. With the BJP claiming victory for D.N. Jeevaraj and the sitting Congress MLA also celebrating, the Election Commission is caught between two competing claims and a High Court directive demanding immediate action.
Key Takeaways
The Karnataka High Court ordered a reverification and recount of postal ballots in Sringeri Assembly constituency from the 2023 elections .
The BJP claims its candidate D.N.
Jeevaraj secured more postal votes in the recount; the ECI has not yet officially declared the result.
Sitting Congress MLA T.D.
Rajegowda also claimed victory and celebrated near the counting centre on Saturday .
Opposition Leader R.
Ashoka and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi alleged the Congress government is pressuring poll officials to delay the result declaration.
BJP alleged the standard counting order — postal votes first, then EVM votes — was reversed in Sringeri, prompting the original court challenge.
The ECI reportedly told the High Court it would inform the court of its decision, a response the BJP called vague.
The Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday, 3 May demanded the immediate declaration of the recount result in the Sringeri Assembly constituency, invoking a Karnataka High Court order, and alleged that the state's Congress government is exerting pressure on election officials to delay the announcement. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is yet to officially declare the result, even as both the BJP and the sitting Congress MLA have claimed victory.
Why Sringeri Is Being Recounted
The reverification and recounting of postal ballots in Sringeri was ordered by the Karnataka High Court following a legal challenge over alleged irregularities in the original counting during the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections. According to the BJP, the recount process has been completed and a report has been submitted to the ECI. The party asserts that its candidate, D.N. Jeevaraj, secured more postal votes in the recount.
Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi, speaking in New Delhi on Sunday, said Jeevaraj has been deprived of the MLA position for three years due to alleged irregularities in the earlier postal ballot count, and stressed there should be no further delay in declaring the result.
What BJP Leaders Said
Opposition Leader R. Ashoka accused the Congress government of pressuring election officials to withhold the outcome. "The Congress government is putting pressure on election officials not to declare the results of the Sringeri Assembly constituency," Ashoka charged, adding that the BJP has demanded officials comply with the High Court order immediately.
Ashoka alleged that the standard procedure — counting postal votes first, followed by EVM votes — was reversed in Sringeri, which prompted the BJP to approach the court. "The state government withholding the results is a clear misuse of power. The election officer must declare the results immediately," he demanded.
Invoking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Ashoka said: "Where is Rahul Gandhi now, the one who keeps shouting about 'vote theft'? The moment they realised the results were going in favour of BJP, the officials did a U-turn."
Union Minister Joshi warned that if results are not declared promptly, the Election Officer will be held responsible for any complications arising from the delay. He said the High Court order clearly directs that if discrepancies are found in the recount, the District Election Officer (DEO) must declare results accordingly.
Congress Also Claims Victory
On Saturday, sitting Congress MLA T.D. Rajegowda claimed victory following the recount and celebrated with his supporters near the counting centre, deepening the uncertainty around the official outcome. The ECI reportedly gave a response that it would inform the High Court — a reply the BJP described as vague.
BJP's Broader Attack on Karnataka Government
Opposition Leader Ashoka widened his criticism beyond the recount dispute, alleging a series of governance failures by the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government. He claimed government employees are on strike due to non-payment of salaries, that ₹5,000 crore for the Gruha Laxmi scheme has not been released, and that ₹750 crore is pending under the Annabhagya scheme.
Ashoka also cited the death of seven people after a wall collapse at Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru and alleged that ₹1 lakh was spent to fill a single pothole. He further alleged factional tensions within the Karnataka Congress, claiming the party has split into three factions over the Chief Ministership, with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's camps at odds, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge reportedly opening a third front.
What Happens Next
The ECI has yet to officially declare the Sringeri result, and the matter remains before the Karnataka High Court. With both the BJP and the Congress claiming victory, the final outcome will hinge on the ECI's announcement in compliance with the court's directive. The BJP has made clear it will hold the Election Officer accountable if the declaration is delayed any further.
Point of View
The recount is done, yet the result remains undeclared — with both sides claiming victory. The ECI's reported response of 'we will inform the court' is procedurally evasive for an institution whose mandate is finality. Notably, this is not just a local contest — it has drawn Union Ministers and the Leader of Opposition, signalling that the BJP sees this as a test case for postal ballot integrity ahead of future electoral cycles. If the ECI does not act swiftly and transparently, the credibility damage will outlast the Sringeri result itself.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Sringeri Assembly seat being recounted?
The Karnataka High Court ordered a reverification and recount of postal ballots in Sringeri following a legal challenge over alleged irregularities in the original counting during the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections. The BJP had alleged that the standard procedure of counting postal votes before EVM votes was not followed.
Who is the BJP candidate in the Sringeri recount?
The BJP candidate is D.N. Jeevaraj. The party claims he secured more postal votes in the court-ordered recount and should be declared the winner. Jeevaraj has reportedly been denied the MLA seat for three years due to the dispute over the original postal ballot count.
Has the Election Commission declared the Sringeri result?
No. As of 3 May, the Election Commission of India has not officially declared the Sringeri recount result, despite the recount being completed and a report submitted to the ECI. The ECI reportedly indicated it would inform the High Court of its decision.
What has the Congress said about the Sringeri recount?
Sitting Congress MLA T.D. Rajegowda claimed victory following the recount on Saturday and celebrated with supporters near the counting centre. The Congress government has not publicly responded to the BJP's allegations of exerting pressure on election officials.
What action has the BJP demanded over the Sringeri result delay?
The BJP, through Opposition Leader R. Ashoka and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, has demanded the District Election Officer immediately declare the result in compliance with the Karnataka High Court order. Joshi warned that the Election Officer will be held responsible for any complications arising from further delay.
