Sringeri recount row: Karnataka BJP urges Governor to administer oath to MLA Jeevaraj
Synopsis
Two years after a disputed election count, a Karnataka High Court-ordered recount has flipped the Sringeri seat to the BJP — but the winner still hasn't been sworn in. With the Speaker accused of deliberate delay and the BJP now at the Governor's door invoking Article 188, the constitutional standoff is set to intensify.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka BJP delegation met Governor Thawarchand Gehlot on 5 May over the delayed oath of Sringeri MLA D.N.
The Election Commission declared Jeevaraj the winner after a Karnataka High Court -ordered recount of 2023 postal ballots.
Leader of Opposition R.
Ashoka alleged Speaker U.T.
Khader is deliberately delaying the swearing-in, violating Article 188 of the Constitution.
The Governor reportedly assured the delegation he would write to the state government within an hour .
The BJP threatened an agitation against the Speaker and demanded a CBI enquiry into alleged irregularities during the 2023 count.
The Sringeri Assembly constituency recount row escalated sharply on Tuesday, 5 May, as a Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation met Governor Thawarchand Gehlot at his official residence in Bengaluru and submitted a formal complaint against Speaker U.T. Khader for allegedly delaying the administration of the oath to newly declared BJP winner D.N. Jeevaraj. The delegation urged the Governor to administer the oath himself, citing constitutional provisions.
Background: How the Sringeri Dispute Unfolded
The row traces back to the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, in which the Sringeri constituency result was contested. On the orders of the Karnataka High Court, a process of reverification and recounting of postal ballots was conducted last week. Following the recount, the Election Commission of India (ECI) declared D.N. Jeevaraj of the BJP as the winner, defeating sitting Indian National Congress (Congress) MLA T.D. Rajegowda. A state gazette notification confirming Jeevaraj's election was subsequently published.
What the BJP Delegation Said
Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka, former Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, and MLA D.N. Jeevaraj met the Governor and submitted a memorandum highlighting the delay in the swearing-in. Speaking to the media afterwards, Ashoka said,
Point of View
But it also raises a legitimate question: can a Speaker indefinitely withhold a swearing-in after the ECI has issued a certificate? The Karnataka High Court's reported criticism of the state government's handling adds judicial weight to the BJP's position. If the Congress-led government is seen to be using the Speaker's office to delay a constitutionally mandated process, it risks a credibility cost that outlasts the Sringeri seat itself.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sringeri recount row about?
The Sringeri recount row concerns the 2023 Karnataka Assembly election result in the Sringeri constituency, which was subjected to a court-ordered reverification and recount of postal ballots. Following the recount, the Election Commission declared BJP candidate D.N. Jeevaraj the winner over sitting Congress MLA T.D. Rajegowda, but the Speaker has not yet administered the oath, prompting the BJP to approach the Governor.
Why is the BJP approaching the Governor over the oath?
The BJP argues that Speaker U.T. Khader is deliberately delaying the swearing-in of D.N. Jeevaraj despite the ECI issuing an election certificate and the state gazette publishing the result. Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka cited Article 188 of the Constitution, which vests the oath administration in the Governor, and urged Governor Thawarchand Gehlot to act directly.
What did Governor Thawarchand Gehlot say after the meeting?
According to BJP leaders, the Governor assured the delegation that he would write to the state government within an hour of the meeting. The BJP indicated that if the government fails to act, the Governor may administer the oath himself.
What is the BJP's threat if the Speaker continues to delay?
The BJP has warned it will launch an agitation against Speaker U.T. Khader for acting against the Constitution if the oath is not administered promptly. It has also demanded a CBI enquiry into alleged irregularities during the original 2023 vote count in Sringeri.
Has a similar constitutional standoff happened elsewhere in India?
Yes. Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka cited a precedent from West Bengal, where two BJP MLAs were allegedly denied the oath during Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's tenure and the Governor subsequently announced he would administer the oath himself.
