Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni has been disqualified from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly due to his conviction in a BJP leader murder case by a Bengaluru sessions court. The disqualification will last for six years post his release, unless a competent court stays the conviction.
The disqualification, effective from April 15, 2026, is based on the Constitution of India and the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Consequently, the Dharwad Assembly seat now stands vacant. Secretary M.K. Vishalakshi of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly confirmed Kulkarni’s disqualification from the Dharwad constituency.
Kulkarni’s conviction in Special Case No. 565/2021 by the Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru City, led to his disqualification as an MLA. With this disqualification, a seat in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly has become vacant.
Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader had previously mentioned that the decision on Kulkarni’s disqualification would be made upon official receipt of information regarding the life sentence. Social activists and opposition leaders had raised concerns over the delay in disqualifying Kulkarni from his MLA position.
