The Supreme Court on 11 May 2026 ordered a stay on the recount exercise conducted in the Sringeri Assembly constituency of Karnataka, thereby restoring the pre‑recount status quo and reinstating TD Rajegowda of the Congress as the elected MLA. The decision overturns the earlier declaration that DN Jeevaraja of the BJP had won the seat after a controversial postal‑ballot recount.

Key Developments

Petitioner TD Rajegowda appealed to the Supreme Court against the Karnataka High Court’s order directing a recount of postal ballots.
The Court observed that the Returning Officer had gone beyond the High Court’s mandate by re‑verifying already validated postal ballots and deducting votes in favour of Rajegowda.
The bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and K Vinod Chandran held the extra steps “prima facie without a foundation” and ordered a stay on all actions taken under the recount.
The order will nullify the declaration made on 3 May 2026 that DN Jeevaraja won by a margin of 52 votes and his subsequent swearing‑in.
An FIR has been lodged against DN Jeevaraja for alleged tampering with ballot boxes during the recount.

Important Facts

The High Court had originally ordered re‑verification of 279 rejected postal ballots, but the Returning Officer also recounted 562 valid postal ballots favouring Rajegowda.
During the recount, 248 of Rajegowda’s postal votes were deducted and 2 votes were added to Jeevaraja’s tally, altering the result.
The Supreme Court’s stay will remain in effect until the appeal is finally decided; a further hearing is scheduled for 21 May 2026.
Legal representation for Rajegowda included senior advocates