In a dramatic political development in Karnataka, BJP leader D.N. Jeevaraj has been officially declared the winner from the Sringeri Assembly constituency following a court-ordered recount of postal ballots. The revised result overturned the 2023 Karnataka Assembly Election outcome, where Congress candidate T.D. Rajegowda had originally been declared elected.
The Election Officer formally announced the revised result through email communication after the completion of the recount process. According to the updated figures, D.N. Jeevaraj secured victory by a narrow margin of 52 votes, marking a significant turnaround in one of the state’s closely watched election disputes.
During the 2023 Karnataka Assembly Elections, Congress leader T.D. Rajegowda had initially been declared the winner by a margin of 201 votes. However, BJP candidate D.N. Jeevaraj challenged the counting process, particularly raising objections regarding the handling and counting of postal ballots.
Following the disputed result, Jeevaraj approached the court seeking a review and recount of postal votes. The legal battle continued for nearly two-and-a-half years before the court finally ordered a fresh recount of postal ballots in the constituency.
Acting on the court’s directive, election authorities conducted the recount process on May 2 under official supervision. After verifying and re-evaluating the postal ballots, officials concluded that the earlier declared result had changed, leading to D.N. Jeevaraj emerging victorious.
The announcement has triggered major political reactions in Karnataka, especially within BJP circles, as the party managed to wrest the Sringeri seat from the Congress. The constituency had remained under Congress control after the 2023 elections, but the revised verdict has now shifted the seat into the BJP’s column.
Election officials stated that D.N. Jeevaraj is expected to receive the official victory certificate within hours. With the revised declaration, he will now serve as the MLA of the Sringeri Assembly constituency for the remaining tenure of the current Assembly, which is approximately two years.
The timing of the development has also boosted the morale of the Karnataka BJP leadership, especially on a day when election results from five states and two Assembly constituencies are being announced across the country. Party leaders described the verdict as a “major moral and political victory” for the BJP in the state.
Supporters of D.N. Jeevaraj celebrated the announcement, while Congress workers expressed disappointment over the reversal of the earlier election outcome. Political analysts noted that the case once again highlights the critical importance of postal ballots in closely contested elections and the growing role of judicial intervention in election disputes.
The Sringeri result is likely to intensify political debates in Karnataka, with both parties expected to continue exchanging accusations over the handling of the original counting process. However, with the Election Officer officially declaring the revised outcome, BJP has now officially secured the Sringeri Assembly seat.
