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Sringeri recounting: Karnataka Speaker says he will have to study legal and technical aspects before administring oath to D.N. Jeevaraj
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A file photo of Speaker UT Khader. | T. Khader said on Wednesday (May 6, 2026) that he is not intentionally delaying administration of oath to D.N. Jeevaraj, who has been elected to the Assembly from Sringeri constituency. As circumstances of his election to the Assembly is unique, the Speaker will have to study the legislative procedure, legal aspects and associated technical issues related to the administration of oath, Mr. Khader said.Talking to reporters, Mr. Khader said none approached him on May 4, 2026, a day after Mr. Jeevaraj was declared winner by the Election Commission. The application seeking time to administer oath was filed by Mr. Jeevaraj on May 5, 2026.The parliamentary system of democracy runs on trust, Mr. Khader said, adding that Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka and Mr. Jeevaraj approached Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on May 5, and needlessly accused him (Speaker) of delaying administration of oath.“I spoke to the Governor and put out my point of view,” Mr. Khader said. By accusing him (Mr. Khader) of delaying administration of oath, Mr. Ashok and Mr. Jeevaraj have created an impression of mistrust in public about the office of the Speaker. Mr. Ashok and Mr. Jeevaraj do not have paitence to wait for my decision on the latter’s application, he said.The Election Commission of India has to seriously look into faux pas related to counting of postal ballot votes. “Action should be taken against officials responsible for faulty counting of postal ballots. The officials should be held accountable. The ECI has to take action to ensure that such a scenario does not occur in future,” the Speaker said.Mr. Khader said the first meeting of the committee formed by the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, on framing common procedures for State Assemblies, will be held in Mysuru on May 12 and 13. This five-member committee of Speakers of State Assemblies will be headed by Uttar Pradesh Speaker Satish Mahana. The scenario arising out of Mr. Jeevaraj’s election will be discussed in the meeting, Mr. Khader said. Published - May 06, 2026 03:26 pm IST
BJP candidate D.N. Jeevaraj was declared the winner in Sringeri Assembly constituency after a re-count of postal ballots, on May 2, 2026. Chikkamagaluru Town Police registered an FIR against BJP candidate D.N. Jeevaraj, former Deputy Commissioner K.N. Ramesh, former Returning Officer Vedamurthy and others on the charge of tampering with ballot papers, among other offences, on May 3 — hours after Jeevaraj was declared the winner following verification and recount of postal ballots.The case was registered based on a complaint filed by Sudhir Kumar Murolli, poll counting agent for Congress candidate T.D. Raje Gowda. The FIR was registered under Section 136 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which deals with tampering of ballots and related offences, as well as under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, pertaining to forgery, cheating and criminal conspiracy. Published - May 04, 2026 09:07 am IST
Congress candidate T.D. Raje Gowda, centre, interacts with police personnel amid verification of postal ballots polled for Sringeri Assembly constituency during the elections in April-May 2023, as per instructions of the High Court of Karnataka, in Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, Saturday, May 2, 2026. | D. Raje Gowda reduced by 255 votes after the verification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, a process that continued until midnight in Chikkamagaluru on Saturday (May 2, 2026). The Returning Officer stated that as per the High Court’s instructions, he submitted a report to the Election Commission.Mr. Raje Gowda, after the original counting in 2023, had won against his nearest rival D.N. Jeevaraj of the BJP by a thin margin of 201 votes. Now, after the verification and recount, his tally has reduced by 255 votes, prompting supporters of the BJP candidate to celebrate. Published - May 03, 2026 06:44 am IST
D.N. Jeevaraj, BJP candidate in Sringeri Assembly segment, had moved court seeking recounting of votes. | The strong room of the constituency at the EVM warehouse in Shivamogga was opened in the presence of the Returning Officer. The box containing postal ballots was carried to IDSG College, where the verification and counting will take place. Published - May 02, 2026 09:51 am IST
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