Chikkamagaluru: The dramatic recount of postal ballots in the Sringeri Assembly constituency has reshaped the 2023 electoral verdict, with BJP leader D.N. Jeevaraj emerging victorious by a narrow margin of 52 votes. The outcome, declared after nearly 16 hours of counting amid confusion and high tension, has sparked sharp political reactions across Karnataka after 3 years of legal fight.
The recount was conducted following a directive from the Karnataka High Court, which ordered a re-evaluation of postal ballots after allegations of discrepancies in the original counting process. The court’s intervention proved decisive, as a total of 255 votes earlier counted in favour of Congress MLA T.D. Rajegowda were declared invalid during scrutiny.
This significant revision altered the final tally, overturning the original result of the 2023 Assembly election in which Rajegowda had defeated Jeevaraj by 201 votes. Following the recount, election officials formally declared Jeevaraj as the winner and issued him the MLA certificate.
ಶೃಂಗೇರಿಯ ಧರ್ಮಭೂಮಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅಂತಿಮವಾಗಿ ಸತ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಜಯ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿದೆ. ಪಕ್ಷದ ಅಭ್ಯರ್ಥಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಡಿ.ಎನ್. ಜೀವರಾಜ್ ಅವರ ಈ ಗೆಲುವು, ನಮ್ಮ ಚುನಾವಣಾ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಹಾಗೂ ನ್ಯಾಯಾಂಗದ ಮೇಲಿನ ವಿಶ್ವಾಸಕ್ಕೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕ ಗೆಲುವು. ಈ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಶೃಂಗೇರಿ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದ ಸಮಸ್ತ ಮತದಾರ ಬಂಧುಗಳಿಗೂ ನನ್ನ ಕೃತಜ್ಞತೆಗಳನ್ನು ಸಲ್ಲಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.
ಸತತ ಪರಿಶ್ರಮ ಮತ್ತು…
— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) May 3, 2026
The development has been hailed by the BJP as a validation of its long-standing claim of electoral injustice. Reacting strongly, party leaders invoked the national motto “Satyameva Jayate” (truth alone triumphs), describing the outcome as a victory of truth achieved through constitutional means.
State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra, in a social media post, said the result demonstrated the strength of democratic institutions and the judiciary. “This is not just a political victory, but a moral one. Truth has prevailed, and every vote has found its rightful value,” he stated, congratulating Jeevaraj for his perseverance.
ಶೃಂಗೇರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಅಸಿಂಧು – ಸತ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಜಯ!
ವೋಟ್ ಚೋರ್ ಕೌನ್ ಹೈ?
ರಾಹುಲ್ ಗಾಂಧಿ ಹೈ!ಶೃಂಗೇರಿ ವಿಧಾನಸಭಾ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದ ಮರು ಎಣಿಕೆ ಫಲಿತಾಂಶ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಪಕ್ಷದ ಕರಾಳ ಮುಖವನ್ನ ಮತ್ತೊಮ್ಮೆ ಬಯಲು ಮಾಡಿದೆ. ಜನಾದೇಶಕ್ಕೆ ಮೋಸ ಮಾಡಿ ಅಕ್ರಮವಾಗಿ ಗೆಲುವು ಸಾಧಿಸಲು ಅಧಿಕಾರ ದುರ್ಬಳಕೆ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಪಕ್ಷಕ್ಕೆ ನ್ಯಾಯಾಂಗ… pic.twitter.com/P3gvGa9AmG
— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) May 3, 2026
Jeevaraj himself termed the verdict as the culmination of a prolonged legal struggle. “I had faith in the judiciary and the democratic process. This is a victory for justice and for the people of Sringeri,” he said, adding that his fight was aimed at ensuring that no vote is disregarded.
The Sringeri contest had been one of the closest in the state during the 2023 elections. While Rajegowda had secured a lead of 324 votes in the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) count, the postal ballots had tilted the overall result in his favour. However, questions raised over the rejection and counting of postal votes led Jeevaraj to approach the High Court.
After months of legal proceedings, the High Court bench ordered a recount on April 6, setting the stage for the eventual reversal. The recount process itself witnessed moments of tension, including procedural delays and scrutiny of ballot validity, before concluding late Saturday night.
While BJP leaders have celebrated, the Congress has maintained a cautious stance, with party sources indicating that they are examining the recount process and legal options.
Case filed: BJP alleges ‘political retaliation’
The postal ballot recount in the Sringeri Assembly constituency has taken a sharp political turn, with the BJP alleging “retaliatory action” by the Congress following the reversal of the election result.
A criminal case has been registered at the Chikkamagaluru Town Police Station against three individuals, including BJP leader and MLA D.N. Jeevaraj, former election officer Vedamurthy, and then Deputy Commissioner Ramesh Kumar. The complaint, filed by counting agent Sudhir Kumar Muroli, raises serious allegations of irregularities during the postal ballot counting process.
According to the complaint, the strong room where postal ballots were stored was allegedly not properly sealed. It further claims that trunks containing ballot papers were found in an open condition, with seals tampered and locks reportedly cut, raising suspicion of possible manipulation of votes.
Based on these allegations, police have registered a case under sections related to cheating, criminal offences, and forgery.
Reacting strongly, BJP leaders have termed the case a “politically motivated move” aimed at discrediting the recount verdict. Party leaders alleged that the complaint was filed as a countermeasure after the Congress suffered a setback in the recount, which saw Jeevaraj declared winner by 52 votes over Congress MLA T.D. Rajegowda.
“The timing of the FIR raises serious questions. When the result did not go in their favour, attempts are being made to create confusion and target officials and the winning candidate,” a BJP leader said, calling for an impartial investigation.
Amid the escalating row, election officer Gaurav Kumar Shetty formally announced the final result and issued the election certificate to Jeevaraj. He is set to assume office as MLA, replacing Rajegowda, who had held the seat for nearly three years.
Congress leaders, however, have maintained that the complaint is based on specific observations made during the counting process and should not be viewed through a political lens. Party sources indicated that they would cooperate with any inquiry and have called for transparency in the investigation.
