Bengaluru, June 11, 2026: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was re-elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka for a second term, as four candidates were declared elected without a contest for the state’s vacant Upper House seats.

Along with Kharge, Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Mansoor Ali Khan, as well as BJP nominee Prof. M. Nagaraj, were elected unopposed after the close of nominations and scrutiny process.

The elections were held to fill four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka, with the terms of the outgoing members ending later this month. As only four valid candidates remained in the fray for four seats, polling was not required.

Kharge, who currently serves as Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, will continue to represent Karnataka in the Upper House.

Pawan Khera’s election marks his entry into Parliament. His candidature attracted political discussion in some quarters regarding representation from the state. Congress leaders defended the nomination, noting that Rajya Sabha members are not required to be residents of the state they represent.

Mansoor Ali Khan, an AICC leader associated with party organizational responsibilities, was also elected on a Congress ticket.

Prof. M. Nagaraj secured the BJP’s lone seat among the four vacancies, ensuring the party’s continued representation from Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha.

With a comfortable majority in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, the Congress was in a position to secure three of the four available seats, while the BJP retained one seat.

The unopposed election of all four candidates eliminated the need for polling that had initially been scheduled for June 18.