The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the 2023 election of Congress leader KY Nanjegowda from the Malur Assembly constituency in Karnataka.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi ruled that Nanjegowda emerged as winner even after the recount of votes ordered by the Court.

Hence, it set aside the Karnataka High Court order which had invalidated his election.

“We allow the appeal to the extent that the High Court order setting aside the election of the appellant is set aside and the election of the appellant from his constituency is upheld," the Court said, pronouncing the judgment.

The Court made it clear that Nanjegowda would remain elected despite the recounting of votes and that the net result was that he would continue as Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Malur constituency.

The Bench also directed that report on recounting of votes, submitted to the Court in sealed, cover shall remain intact as per the rules.

The dispute arose after an election petition was filed before the High Court by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate KS Manjunath Gowda who had also contested the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections from Malur.

Manjunath Gowda alleged several irregularities during the election process, including wrongful counting of votes, that election officers obtained signatures of counting agents even before the electronic voting machines (EVMs) were opened, and that unauthorized persons were allowed inside the counting hall.

Taking these allegations into account, the Karnataka High Court in September 2025 set aside Nanjegowda's election, ordered a recount of votes in four weeks, apart from ordering action against an election official for failing to preserve video records of the 2023 election process.

Aggrieved by the order, Nanjegowda approached the Supreme Court.

When the matter first came up before the apex court in October 2025, it stayed the High Court order but directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to comply with the High Court’s direction to recount the votes.

The apex court also directed the ECI to submit the results of the recount in a sealed cover before the Court.

The same was carried out and the results were submitted in sealed cover.

After examining the same, the Court on Thursday proceeded to restore Nanjegowda’s election.

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