Supreme Court Upholds 2023 Election Of Karnataka Congress MLA K Y Nanjegowda, Notes He's Winner Even After Recount

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the election of Congress member K Y Nanjegowda as Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Malur constituency (Kolar district) in the Karnataka assembly elections of 2023.

Noting that even after the recount of the votes, Nanjegowda secured 250 more votes than his opponent KS Manjunath Gowda from BJP,  the bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi set aside the Karnataka High Court's judgment of Septemer 2025 which annulled his election.

During the 2023 assembly election, Nanjegowda won by a margin of 248 votes against BJP candidate KS Manjunath Gowda. The BJP candiate later filed the election petition in the High Court seeking recount of the votes, alleging irregularities. The High Court, while setting aside the election, ordered a recount of the votes and a fresh declaration of results.

Challenging the High Court's verdict, Nanjegowda appealed to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court, while admitting the appeal in October last year, had directed the Returning Officer to submit the result after recounting in a sealed cover.

Today, the Court, after reopening the sealed cover in the presence of the parties, noted that even after the recount, Nanjegowda is the winner. Nanjegowda was found to have secured 50,957 votes and Manjunath Gowda 50, 707 votes.

"That being so, the election of the candidate from Malur remains unaffected even after compliance of direction of recounting of votes issued by the HC. Consequently, we allow this appeal, to the extent that the impugned decision of setting aside the election of appellant is set aside and the election of the appellant from Malur is upheld," the Court observed.

The Court also set aside the High Court's direction to the Election Commission of India to the District Election Officer for not furnishing the video recordings. The Court further clarified that it is not expressing any opinion on whether the requirement of video recording of the counting process is mandatory or not.

Senior Advocate Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for the appellant in the Supreme Court.

Case : K.Y.NANJE GOWDA v. K.S MANJUNATH GOWDA AND ORS.| C.A. No. 12371/2025