Congress Alleges Polling Misconduct Over Vote of MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal

A political dispute erupted in Bengaluru on June 18, 2026, after the Congress party alleged polling misconduct involving expelled MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal during an election. The Congress claimed Yatnal violated the secrecy of the ballot, an accusation that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) denied.

Speaking to the media after the voting concluded, MLA A S Ponnanna, a former legal adviser to the chief minister, explained that former MP VS Ugrappa raised an objection during the voting process. Ugrappa, who was serving as the Congress polling agent, objected to Yatnal allegedly violating the secret ballot system by openly issuing a letter revealing whom he intended to vote for.

Ponnanna stated that because the secret ballot system was violated, Yatnal's vote ought to have been kept in a separate box. However, before the formal objection could be raised, Yatnal had already cast his vote in the same box as the other MLAs. The returning officer ultimately ruled that she could not take cognisance of what happened outside the voting premises, but confirmed that secrecy was maintained inside the voting booth.

The BJP strongly contested the Congress party's allegations. BJP MLC N Ravikumar claimed that Ugrappa had improperly brought Yatnal's letter, which was addressed to BJP national president Nitin Nabin, inside the voting booth to question the MLA.

Ravikumar argued that Ugrappa was only supposed to verify whether all those entitled to vote had cast their votes, rather than questioning Yatnal on other matters. He stated that the Congress agent's actions disrupted what was supposed to be a peaceful voting process.

Ravikumar added that the election officer ruled that voting inside the room was conducted in secrecy and silence, determining that nothing improper had taken place during the process.