Modi ridicules Congress as BJP and allies sweep MLC seats in four states

Prime Minister Narendra Modi mocked the Congress party’s poor performance in the recent Legislative Council elections held across four states. The elections covered 28 Upper House constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Karnataka and were conducted using paper ballot papers, a demand long championed by opposition parties. Counting started on Tuesday, October 27, and continued into Wednesday in several seats.

What Happened

In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP secured five seats while the Samajwadi Party won three. Karnataka saw the Congress lose all four seats; the JD(S) took one seat from the ruling party and its ally the BJP held the remaining three. In Maharashtra, the BJP‑led Mahayuti led in three seats and the opposition NCP (SP) was ahead in two. Bihar’s results included wins for the BJP, JD(U), RJD and an Independent, each taking one seat, while the Jan Suraaj Party recorded its first win in the state.

Reaction

Modi posted on X, highlighting that elections were held with ballot papers and asking, “Guess how many seats Congress won?” The taunt underscored the Congress’s “dismal” showing despite the shift to paper ballots. The Congress and other opposition groups continue to press for all future elections to use ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines.

Context

Paper ballots were introduced after opposition parties argued that electronic machines could be tampered with. The MLC elections are biennial and serve as a barometer for party strength in state upper houses, influencing legislative agendas ahead of upcoming state assembly polls.