The Karnataka Legislative Assembly has disqualified Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni following his conviction in the murder case of BJP leader Yogesh Goudar, with the decision formally notified on Saturday. As a result, the Dharwad Assembly seat he represented has been declared vacant.
The disqualification takes effect from April 15, 2026, the date on which Kulkarni was convicted by a special court in Bengaluru. The action has been taken under Article 191(1)(e) of the Constitution, read with provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Under the law, the disqualification will continue for six years after completion of his sentence unless a higher court intervenes and stays the conviction.
The conviction stems from a 2016 murder case involving Yogeshgouda Goudar, a BJP Zilla Panchayat member who was attacked and killed inside a gym in Dharwad. Investigators later alleged that the killing was the result of a political rivalry, with Kulkarni identified as a key conspirator in the case.
Following the conviction, the court sentenced Kulkarni and several co-accused to life imprisonment on April 17, and he is currently serving his sentence. The case had earlier been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation in 2019, which subsequently filed a chargesheet naming him as the main accused in the conspiracy.
Kulkarni’s legal journey has seen multiple developments over the years, including periods of bail granted and later cancelled by the Supreme Court of India due to concerns such as alleged witness tampering. His bail status changed several times during the trial phase before the final conviction was delivered.
With his disqualification, the effective strength of the Assembly is reduced, and a by-election will now be required in the Dharwad constituency to fill the vacant seat. The situation adds a political dimension to the legal outcome, as parties prepare for the upcoming bypoll in the region.
