Council polls in Karnataka: Resort politcs set to return? - The HinduPublished - June 12, 2026 11:42 pm IST - BengaluruThe polls to seven seats in Karnataka’s Legislative Council are on June 18. | Photo Credit: file photoAhead of the polls to seven seats in Karnataka’s Legislative Council on June 18, the Congress and associate legislators are likely to be herded to a resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru to keep the flock safe.While the Congress is expected to win four seats comfortably, it is locked in a close fight with the Janata Dal (Secular) over one seat. The BJP is expected to win two seats comfortably.CLP meetingCongress sources said that the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting has been convened for June 16 evening, following which MLAs are likely to be asked to stay back in the resort. They could be brought to the Vidhana Soudha directly to cast their ballot on June 18, sources said.Another source said that it is likely that the legislators would be informed of the allocation of the votes to the candidates, given awareness of the election, which is held on preferential voting system and mock voting is likely to be held. An important thing is to ensure that the votes do not become invalid since every vote is important in this election, sources said, adding that the secret ballot in the election brings anxiety to the poll preparation as cross-voting could be expected.Vote matrixIn the election to the seven seats, the Congress’s candidates, KPCC president B.K. Hariprasad, P. V. Mohan, Tippannappa Kamaknoor, and B.S. Shivanna, are expected to win comfortably along with the BJP’s Lingaraj Patil and Raghu Kautilya. With each candidate requiring 28 votes, all these candidates are expected to sail through comfortably.The election to one seat remains tantalisingly close in which Janata Dal (Secular) candidate Govindraju is pitted against Vinay Karthik, who has filed as the fifth candidate from the Congress.Additional votesWhile the BJP is expected to transfer seven additional votes to the JD(S), which has 18 members, the regional party will fall short of 28 by two votes after counting in BJP’s expelled member Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal.On the other hand, the Congress seems to have just about the required number of 28 votes, including that of one Raitha Sangha member, two associate members and support from two members expelled from the BJP.Published - June 12, 2026 11:42 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }