Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. File photo: The Bengaluru Live archive.
Bengaluru: Voting for four Karnataka Legislative Council seats—two graduates’ and two teachers’ constituencies—will be held on October 23, 2026, from 8 am to 4 pm, the Election Commission of India announced on Tuesday. Counting is scheduled for October 27.
The biennial elections will fill vacancies arising when the terms of the four sitting members end on November 11, 2026. The notification will be issued on September 29, with October 6 as the last date for filing nominations.
Four constituencies going to the polls
The seats are Karnataka South-East Graduates’, represented by Chidanand M Gowda; Karnataka West Graduates’, represented by S V Sankanur; Karnataka North-East Teachers’, represented by Shashil G Namoshi; and Bangalore Teachers’, represented by Puttanna.
The Commission’s September 22 press note lists all four members as retiring on November 11. The election programme forms part of its announcement for graduates’ and teachers’ constituencies in Karnataka, Bihar, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
Election schedule
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification | September 29, 2026 |
| Last date for nominations | October 6 |
| Scrutiny of nominations | October 7 |
| Last date for withdrawal | October 9 |
| Polling | October 23, 8 am–4 pm |
| Counting | October 27 |
| Election process to be completed by | October 31 |
Model code takes immediate effect
The Model Code of Conduct concerning these elections takes effect immediately in the constituencies concerned, the Commission said. Its press note specifies the relevant constituencies as the area of operation.
Candidates have until October 6 to submit nominations. Scrutiny follows the next day, while October 9 is the final date to withdraw candidature. Polling and counting will take place on separate days, with the process to be completed by October 31.
Source: Election Commission of India press note, September 22, 2026.
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