Congress Wins Karnataka Bypolls in Bagalkote and Davangere South

The Congress party has won both the Bagalkote and Davangere South by-elections in Karnataka. This is a key win for the party in the state.
By Newsroom | Politics, Karnataka |

Bengaluru, May 4, 2026 – The Indian National Congress has successfully retained its hold on both the Bagalkote and Davangere South Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, according to preliminary results released today. The party secured a decisive victory in Bagalkote and maintained a lead in the closely contested Davangere South by-election, solidifying its political standing in the state. Celebrations were observed among Congress supporters following the declared outcomes.

The byelections in both constituencies were necessitated by the passing of sitting MLAs. In Bagalkote, the seat became vacant due to the death of veteran Congress leader H.Y. Meti. His son, Umesh Hullappa Meti, represented the Congress. The Davangere South constituency saw a bypoll following the demise of senior Congress figure Shamanur Shivashankarappa. His grandson, Samarth Mallikarjun, was fielded by the Congress in this contest.

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While initial reports suggested varying leads throughout the counting process, the final tallies confirmed the Congress's wins. In Bagalkote, Congress candidate Samarth Mallikarjun was reported to be leading significantly after multiple rounds of counting, against the BJP's Srinivasa T. Similarly, though the Davangere South race was described as close, the Congress ultimately emerged victorious in this segment as well.

The electoral battleground saw a multi-cornered contest in both seats, with several other candidates from various parties vying for the mandates. In Bagalkote, nine candidates were in the fray, including representatives from the Uttama Prajakiya Party, Karnataka Rashtra Samithi, and others. Davangere South presented a more crowded field with 25 candidates participating.

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Voter turnout figures indicated a notable level of participation in these byelections. The Election Commission reported a turnout of 68.74% in Bagalkote and 68.43% in Davangere South. These byelections were part of a larger series of electoral contests across multiple states, including Maharashtra, Nagaland, Tripura, and Gujarat, also occasioned by the vacancies created by the passing of sitting legislators.

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The outcomes of these byelections are considered significant for both the ruling Congress party and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), offering an indication of the current political sentiment within Karnataka.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who won the Karnataka by-elections in Bagalkote and Davangere South today?
The Indian National Congress has won both the Bagalkote and Davangere South Assembly constituencies in Karnataka. The results were announced today, May 4, 2026.
Q: Why were there byelections in Bagalkote and Davangere South?
The byelections were held because the previous MLAs for both seats passed away. In Bagalkote, the seat was vacated by H.Y. Meti, and in Davangere South, it was vacated by Shamanur Shivashankarappa.
Q: Who were the winning candidates for Congress in these byelections?
In Bagalkote, Umesh Hullappa Meti, son of the late H.Y. Meti, won for Congress. In Davangere South, Samarth Mallikarjun, grandson of the late Shamanur Shivashankarappa, was the Congress candidate.
Q: How did the voters participate in these byelections?
Voter turnout was significant in both constituencies. The Election Commission reported a turnout of 68.74% in Bagalkote and 68.43% in Davangere South.