The BJP retained three Karnataka Council seats as the JD(S) wrested one from Congress. The sweep signals stronger opposition coordination without threatening the state government's stability.Voting for all four seats was held on October 23 using ballot papers, in keeping with the established practice. (Representative photo) The Congress lost elections to four Karnataka Legislative Council seats, with the opposition JD(S) wresting one constituency from the ruling party and its ally, the BJP, retaining three, news agency Press Trust of India reported on October 28.The results are not expected to affect the stability of the Congress government.

However, they are being viewed as a sign of consolidation between the BJP and JD(S) and a political boost for the opposition alliance.The JD(S) wrested the Bengaluru Teachers' Constituency from the Congress, while the BJP defeated Congress candidates in the North-East Teachers', South-East Graduates' and West Graduates' constituencies, officials told PTI.The results for the Bengaluru Teachers' and North-East Teachers' constituencies were declared on Tuesday. Counting continued overnight in the other two constituencies, officials said.

Voting for all four seats was held on October 23 using ballot papers, in keeping with the established practice.In the Bengaluru Teachers' Constituency, JD(S) candidate A P Ranganath, who was backed by the BJP, defeated sitting Congress MLC Puttanna by 908 votes. Ranganath secured 10,810 votes, while Puttanna, who was seeking re-election, received 9,902 votes, officials said.

The contest was significant because Puttanna had moved from the JD(S) to the Congress ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections. Both Puttanna and Ranganath belong to the Vokkaliga community.In the North-East Teachers' Constituency, sitting BJP MLC Shashil G Namoshi defeated Congress candidate Sharanappa Mattur.

Namoshi secured 15,596 votes against Mattur's 12,299, winning by 3,297 votes, officials told PTI.It was Namoshi's fifth victory from the constituency, which covers Kalaburagi, the political base of All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge, and neighbouring districts in the Kalyana Karnataka region, according to party sources.In the South-East Graduates' Constituency, BJP candidate K M Suresh defeated Congress nominee Shashi Hulikunte Mutt by 23,098 votes.In the West Graduates' Constituency, sitting BJP MLC S V Sankanur defeated Congress candidate Mohan Limbikai by 9,323 votes. Sankanur secured 33,711 votes, while Limbikai received 24,388, official sources said.The elections were seen as a test of coordination between the BJP and JD(S), as well as the Congress's support among teachers and graduates.

They also tested whether the two opposition allies could transfer their support to each other's candidates.The BJP retained all three seats it previously held, while the JD(S) took the Bengaluru Teachers' Constituency from the Congress. The Congress had sought to retain its only seat and make gains in the other constituencies but failed to win any of them.Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president D K Shivakumar, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee working president B K Hariprasad, ministers and other senior party leaders had campaigned across the four constituencies.The opposition alliance's performance has given it political ammunition against the Congress government, which came to power in 2023, though the results are not expected to affect the government's stability.The 75-member Legislative Council currently has 38 Congress members, 24 BJP members, six JD(S) members, one Independent member and Chairman Saleem Ahmed.

Five seats reserved for government nominees are vacant.The Congress is expected to increase its strength when the vacant nominated seats are filled. As a result, the BJP's retention of three seats and the JD(S)'s gain from the Congress are expected to have a limited impact on the overall balance of power in the Council.- Ends