Supreme Court’s latest ruling adds fresh teeth to a dispute that began when Congress candidate TD Rajegowda, who won Sringeri in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls, had his victory overturned after a High Court‑ordered recount.
The recount, which added 279 postal ballots that had been rejected, tipped the scales in favor of BJP’s Jeevaraj, sparking a legal battle that now reaches the apex court.
In May, the Supreme Court granted Rajegowda interim relief, allowing him to continue as MLA while the petition hangs; the court now demanded the Election Commission produce all relevant records, warning of an adverse inference if it fails.
The EC, which has yet to respond to the court’s demand, faces pressure to explain why it cannot trace the 2023 counting footage, a lapse that critics say erodes public confidence in the electoral process.
The next hearing is scheduled for February 15, 2027; until then, the legal status of Jeevaraj’s seat remains in limbo, with voters in Sringeri—like 48‑year‑old farmer Ramesh Shukla—awaiting clarity on who will represent them.