The Karnataka Legislative Assembly has officially disqualified Vinay Kulkarni, MLA from Dharwad and a leader of the Indian National Congress, following his conviction in a murder case related to the 2016 killing of BJP leader Yogesh Gowda.
According to a notification issued by the Karnataka Legislative Assembly Secretariat on May 2, 2026, Kulkarni stands disqualified from the Assembly with effect from April 15, 2026 — the date of his conviction by the Civil and Sessions Court, Bengaluru.
The order further states that the disqualification will remain in force for six years from the date of his release, unless the conviction is stayed by a competent court. Consequently, the Dharwad Assembly seat has been declared vacant.
The disqualification has been enforced under Article 191(1)(e) of the Constitution of India, read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Background: Congress Leader and Legal Troubles
Vinay Kulkarni is a senior leader of the Congress party in Karnataka and has previously served as a minister in the state cabinet. Kulkarni was a prominent Lingayat leader in the Dharwad region.
On April 16 convicted 17 accused in the case, pronounced sentencing on April 17 awarding life imprisonment to 16 individuals, including Kulkarni. Another accused, Channakeshava Tingarikar (A19), was sentenced to seven years in prison. The court also upheld the approver status of prime accused Basavaraj Muttagi.
He was accused in the 2016 murder case of BJP Zilla Panchayat member Yogesh Gowda. The case, which drew significant political attention in Karnataka, was initially investigated by state police and later handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Kulkarni was arrested by the CBI in 2020 and spent a prolonged period in judicial custody before being granted bail under strict conditions. The trial continued over the years, culminating in his conviction in April 2026 by the Bengaluru sessions court.
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