From BD NarayankarBagalkot (Karnataka), April 7 -- The Bagalkot Assembly by-election has taken a decisive turn with the contest increasingly shaped not just by inter-party rivalry, but by the internal dynamics within the Congress, where the Meti family legacy and its unity are emerging as the most critical electoral factor.
The vacancy arose following the death of sitting MLA H. Y. Meti in November 2025, creating both a sympathy wave and a political vacuum that the Indian National Congress initially sought to leverage by retaining the seat within the family.
However, what began as a straightforward succession strategy soon evolved into a complex intra-family contest. Three of Meti's children - Mahadevi Meti, Mallikarjun Meti and Umesh Hul...