Supreme Court interim order lets T. D. Rajegowda continue as MLA, prompting Congress workers in Chikkamagaluru to celebrate with milk abhisheka and fireworks.
Chikkamagaluru
Political celebrations erupted after the Supreme Court issued an interim order allowing T. D. Rajegowda to continue as the sitting MLA of the Shringeri Assembly constituency. Following the ruling, Congress party workers marked the occasion with festive celebrations, including performing a milk abhisheka on Rajegowda’s name board, bursting firecrackers, and distributing sweets.
The celebrations were centered in N.R. Pura, where a large number of Congress leaders and supporters gathered. Workers reinstalled the MLA’s office nameplate that had previously been removed during the course of the political dispute. Supporters raised slogans praising Rajegowda and described the Supreme Court’s interim order as a victory for democracy and justice.
The controversy stems from a closely contested election in the Shringeri constituency, where postal vote recounting became the subject of legal challenge. Initially, BJP candidate D. N. Jeevaraj had been declared the winner by a narrow margin and had even taken oath as MLA. However, Rajegowda challenged the result in court, alleging irregularities in the counting process.
Subsequently, the matter reached the Supreme Court, which recently cancelled the earlier recounting process conducted on May 2 and ordered that the status quo be maintained until further hearings. This interim decision effectively allowed Rajegowda to continue functioning as MLA for the time being, leading to celebrations among his supporters.
The court has also issued notices to the Election Commission, directing it to submit all relevant electoral documents for review. The next hearing, expected later this month, will be crucial in determining the final outcome of the legal battle and the political future of the constituency.
Until then, the interim order has brought temporary relief to Rajegowda’s camp, while also intensifying political tension between the rival parties in the region.
