Counting of votes for the bypolls to the Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly constituencies in Karnataka is set to take place on May 4 under tight security arrangements, election officials confirmed on Sunday. The bypolls, held on April 9, are being closely watched by both the ruling Indian National Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, even though they are not expected to immediately alter the balance of power in the state.

The by-elections were necessitated following the deaths of sitting Congress MLAs H Y Meti from Bagalkot and Shamanur Shivashankarappa from Davanagere South. Despite being localised contests, the results are being viewed as politically significant, with both parties treating them as a test of organisational strength. Officials said counting will begin at 8 am, with trends expected to emerge by midday as Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) counting progresses across designated centres.

Election authorities have made elaborate arrangements at counting venues, including the University of Horticultural Sciences in Bagalkot and DRR School in Davanagere. Around 14 counting tables have been set up at each centre to streamline the process. Security forces have been deployed in strength to ensure law and order, with officials stating that all precautions have been taken to prevent any disturbance during or after the announcement of results.

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In Bagalkot, the Congress has fielded Umesh Meti, son of the late MLA H Y Meti, while the BJP has nominated former MLA Veerabhadrayya Charantimath. In Davanagere South, Congress has fielded Samarth Mallikarjun, grandson of the late Shivashankarappa, while the BJP has put forward Srinivas T Dasakariyappa. The constituency saw a voter turnout of 68.74% in Bagalkot and 68.43% in Davanagere South, indicating strong public participation.

The Davanagere South seat, in particular, has witnessed complex political dynamics, including concerns over community representation and internal party tensions within Congress. Reports of dissatisfaction among sections of the Muslim community and the presence of multiple candidates from the same community have raised concerns about vote division. Internal disciplinary actions within the Congress following allegations of dissent have further added to the political sensitivity of the contest.

In contrast, the BJP has largely projected internal unity in both constituencies, with leaders expressing confidence of a favourable outcome. For the Congress, retaining both seats is seen as important for maintaining political momentum, while the BJP views the bypolls as an opportunity to gain ground ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections. With both parties closely watching the outcome, the results are expected to have implications beyond the two constituencies, shaping political narratives in Karnataka’s evolving landscape.

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