Karnataka Bypolls 2026: Congress Retains Davanagere South and Bagalkot Despite BJP Surge

By: Political Bureau | Bangalore Mail

BENGALURU: In a significant boost to the state government, the ruling Congress party successfully retained both the Davanagere South and Bagalkot Assembly seats in the by-elections held in April 2026. The results indicate a consolidation of the party’s influence, though a narrow margin in Davanagere has sparked intense political discussion.

Bagalkot: A Decisive Victory for Umesh Meti

In Bagalkot, Umesh Hullappa Meti of the Congress secured a convincing victory, defeating his rival, Veeranna Charantimath of the BJP, by a substantial margin of over 22,000 votes.

Umesh Meti, the son of the late former minister H.Y. Meti, polled 98,919 votes. The BJP’s Charantimath, a veteran in the region, managed 76,587 votes. Analysts suggest that a combination of local sentiment and the effective implementation of welfare schemes in North Karnataka played a pivotal role in widening the victory margin.

Davanagere South: A Hard-Fought Battle

The contest in Davanagere South proved to be far more dramatic. Samarth Mallikarjun, representing the Shamanur family, emerged victorious but with a significantly reduced margin of 5,708 votes.

Samarth polled 69,578 votes against the BJP’s Srinivasa T. Dasakariyappa, who secured 63,870 votes.

The SDPI Factor and Internal Friction

The narrow margin in Davanagere South is being attributed to a fragmented mandate. Afsar Kodlipete of the SDPI polled a surprising 18,975 votes, which impacted the traditional vote shares. This shift follows recent internal friction regarding candidate selection and local representation.