‘DK, It’s Done, Bro!’: BJP Taunts Shivakumar After NDA Sweeps Karnataka MLC Polls 4-0

The BJP-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance swept all four Karnataka Legislative Council seats that went to the polls, prompting the BJP to mock Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar with a social media message: “DK, it’s done, bro!”

The NDA won both Graduates’ and both Teachers’ constituencies contested in the October 23 elections. The BJP retained three seats, while the JD(S) captured Bengaluru Teachers’ from the ruling Congress. Counting began on October 27 and continued overnight in two constituencies.

“NDA SWEEPS 4/4 Teachers’ and Graduates’ constituencies in the MLC elections!” the Karnataka BJP posted on X, pairing its victory announcement with the swipe at Shivakumar.

The most consequential change came in Bengaluru Teachers’, where JD(S) candidate A.P. Ranganath defeated sitting Congress MLC Puttanna by 908 votes. The result gave the alliance a seat previously held by Congress, while its other victories protected the BJP’s existing positions.

BJP candidate Shashil G. Namoshi retained North-East Teachers’, defeating Congress nominee Sharanappa Mattur. S.V. Sankanur won West Graduates’ against Congress candidate Mohan Limbikai, while K.M. Suresh defeated Congress nominee Shashi Hulikunte Mutt in South-East Graduates’.

NDA calls result a ‘trailer’ for 2028

JD(S) youth leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy described the outcome as a “historic 4/4 clean sweep” and credited the alliance’s united campaign.

He alleged that the Congress government had misused state machinery and argued that the result reflected dissatisfaction among the electorate.

Kumaraswamy also highlighted the use of ballot papers, invoking the Opposition’s criticism of electronic voting machines. He called the alliance’s performance a “clear trailer” for the 2028 Assembly elections.

Former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa congratulated the four winning candidates and the BJP-JD(S) workers who campaigned for them. He described the outcome as a mandate against Congress and an endorsement of the NDA’s development agenda.

A political setback, with limits

The sweep gives the BJP-JD(S) alliance a result around which to build its campaign against the Congress government. It also strengthens its argument that cooperation between the two parties can translate into electoral gains.

However, Graduates’ and Teachers’ constituencies have specialised electorates. Their results cannot automatically be treated as a verdict from Karnataka’s entire voting population or a forecast of the next Assembly election.

The immediate outcome is clear: Congress failed to win any of the four contested seats, and the Opposition alliance emerged with three retained seats and one gain.

With inputs from ANI