Counting for Karnataka's four graduates' and teachers' Legislative Council seats finished on 27 and 28 October 2026. The BJP–JD(S) alliance won all four. Here's the seat-wise winners, margins and first-preference vote counts, who lost, and what it means for the 75-member Council.
Updated 28 October 2026
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official portal | results.eci.gov.in and CEO Karnataka |
| Helpline | Voter Helpline 1950 |
| Fee | None to look up results |
| Deadline | Counting began 27 October 2026; Bengaluru and North-East Teachers declared the same day, Graduates seats overnight into 28 October 2026 |
| Documents | None for checking results |
| Poll day | 23 October 2026 (ballot paper, as usual for these seats) |
Seat-wise results
Figures below are first-preference votes as reported by officials and carried by ETV Bharat, Hindustan Times and The Times of India on 27–28 October 2026. If the ECI results page shows a later correction, trust that.
| Seat | Winner | Party | Votes | Runner-up | Party | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru Teachers' | A. P. Ranganath | JD(S) (BJP-backed) | 10,810 | Puttanna | Congress | 9,902 | 908 |
| North-East Teachers' | Shashil G. Namoshi | BJP | 15,596 | Sharanappa Mattur | Congress | 12,299 | 3,297 |
| West Graduates' | S. V. Sankanur | BJP | 33,711 | Mohan Limbikai | Congress | 24,388 | 9,323 |
| South-East Graduates' | K. M. Suresh | BJP | see ECI | Shashi Hulikunte Mutt | Congress | see ECI | 23,098 |
South-East Graduates' exact first-preference totals for both candidates were not in the same briefings as the margin; check results.eci.gov.in for the final sheet.
What each seat covers, in one line
Our earlier guides cover how these elections work and how counting and the quota work.
What changes in the Legislative Council
The Council has 75 members. Before this round, Congress had 38, BJP 24, JD(S) 6, one Independent, plus the Chairman, with five nominated seats vacant.
After these results:
| Party / position | Rough tally after results |
|---|---|
| Congress | 38 (lost Bengaluru Teachers') |
| BJP | rises toward 27 |
| JD(S) | rises toward 7 |
| Nominated seats | 5 still vacant |
The numbers do not flip the House. Congress still has a clear majority among elected members. The political reading is about alliance coordination and teachers'/graduates' mood ahead of 2028, not about toppling the government.
How the votes were counted
These seats use the single transferable vote system on ballot papers, not EVMs. Counting started on 27 October 2026. First-preference totals decide most contests when one candidate already clears the quota; otherwise later preferences are transferred. Full walkthrough: Karnataka MLC counting guide.
Checklist if you voted
FAQs
Who won Bengaluru Teachers'?
A. P. Ranganath of the JD(S), backed by the BJP, defeated Congress's Puttanna by 908 votes (10,810 to 9,902).
Did Congress win any of the four seats?
No. The BJP–JD(S) alliance swept all four on counting days 27–28 October 2026.
Does this change who runs Karnataka?
No. The Legislative Council numbers still leave Congress ahead among elected members. Five nominated seats remain vacant.
Where do I see the official sheet?
Start with results.eci.gov.in and the CEO Karnataka site. News figures above should match those sheets; if they don't, the ECI sheet wins.
Were EVMs used?
No. Graduates' and teachers' Council polls in Karnataka use ballot papers.
When is the next similar election?
These are biennial seats. Watch CEO Karnataka and ECI notices for the next graduates'/teachers' cycle.
What happens next
Watch for notification of the five nominated Council seats, and for any election petition timelines if a candidate challenges a result. For Assembly politics, the next big statewide test is still the 2028 Assembly election.
Find your Karnataka MP or MLA on NetaSampark.