The Congress, which has long demanded a return to ballot papers, hit back by noting that the BJP lost seats in the Prime Minister’s own Varanasi and in Nagpur, the headquarters of the RSS. Beyond the rhetoric, the numbers tell a more layered story than either side admits. The results of the Legislative Council elections for 28 seats across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka have set off a fresh war of words between the BJP and the Congress.
The Prime Minister used the outcome to take a swipe at the Congress, mocking its “SIR/Vote Chori” campaign and pointing out that the party struggled even in a ballot-paper election, never mind with EVMs.
The NDA reached four of eight seats, a tie rather than a majority, and the INDIA bloc lost one seat. The low turnout makes these elections a test of political management rather than a broad popular referendum. The party or candidate who registers the most voters usually wins. Over the years, muscle and money power have also grown in importance. Bihar. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraj Party made its debut here, building on the momentum from its Bankipur by-poll win. For new Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who is still settling in, the message is mixed. For the opposition, the sign that voters are exploring options beyond the INDIA bloc is worrying. Karnataka. This was the NDA’s strongest showing, with all four seats going its way and the Congress left with none. It is a notable setback for a Congress party in power in the state, and an early setback for Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar after the transfer of power from Siddaramaiah, which has exposed infighting in the Congress camp. Maharashtra. The MVA held its three seats while the NDA gained one at the expense of “others. The Congress retained the Nagpur seat, a symbolic win in the RSS heartland. For the ruling Mahayuti, the result points to poor coordination among allies, with the BJP blaming the Shinde Sena for lack of support. The rift between the two has been visible since Devendra Fadnavis took over the chief minister’s chair from Eknath Shinde. The NCP seems to have weakened after Ajit Pawar’s death, while Sharad Pawar’s party picked up two seats. This raises uncomfortable questions. Is there a disconnect between sentiment on social and traditional media and the mood on the ground? Discontent against the government, where it exists, does not convert into votes automatically. The party needs a stronger organisation and better poll management, particularly the unglamorous work of getting supporters to come out and vote. MLC results are a poor predictor of general elections, given the narrow and self-selected electorate. But as a measure of party machinery, alliance health and the mood among educated voters, they are a useful early signal. With UP heading to the polls next year, both camps have plenty to think about.
Because they command resources and administrative machinery, incumbent governments typically hold the edge. This is the only state where the INDIA bloc (MVA) still leads, by 3 to 2.
The three “others” seats held steady, making Bihar the one state where they kept their ground. Is the “SIR/Vote Chori” campaign actually resonating with voters? Earlier reporting noted: The illustration showed a man in a white kurta-pyjama, seen from behind, sitting on a ledge and holding a placard reading “Ballot Box, resign”.
Earlier reporting noted: Also Read I MLC polls raise key questions
