‘Guess How Many Seats They Won’: PM Modi Takes Dig At Congress After MLC Poll Rout

PM Modi Takes A Dig At Congress Over MLC Poll Results, Revives Ballot Paper Debate

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday took a swipe at the Congress after the party failed to win a single seat in Karnataka’s Legislative Council elections. Pointing out that the polls were conducted using ballot papers rather than electronic voting machines (EVMs), Modi questioned the Congress’s performance and took aim at the Opposition’s demand to return to paper ballots.

The Prime Minister’s remarks came after results were announced for biennial elections to 28 Legislative Council constituencies across Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Karnataka. The elections were held on October 23, with counting beginning on Tuesday.

In a post on X, Modi highlighted the use of ballot papers in the four states and asked how many seats the Congress had managed to win, making a sarcastic reference to the party’s demand for paper ballots in place of EVMs.

The Congress drew a blank in Karnataka, while the BJP won five seats and the Samajwadi Party secured three in Uttar Pradesh.

Congress Fails To Win A Seat In Karnataka
The Congress suffered a setback in Karnataka, losing all four seats contested in the Legislative Council elections. The Janata Dal (Secular) won the Bengaluru Teachers’ Constituency, while the BJP retained the North-East Teachers’, South-East Graduates’ and West Graduates’ constituencies.

In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP secured five Legislative Council seats, while the Samajwadi Party won three, according to the results announced on Wednesday.

The outcomes provided the backdrop for Modi’s remarks on the use of ballot papers, a central issue in the Opposition’s criticism of India’s electoral system.

How Did The Other States Perform?
The election results across Maharashtra and Bihar also produced a mixed picture for the political parties.

In Maharashtra, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance was leading in three constituencies, while the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) was ahead in two, according to the reported trends.

In Bihar, the Jan Suraaj Party opened its account, while the BJP, Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal and an Independent candidate each won one seat.

The elections covered teachers’ and graduates’ constituencies, where voting rights are restricted to eligible voters registered in the relevant categories.

Ballot Papers Back In The Political Debate
Modi’s remarks came amid repeated demands by the Congress and other Opposition parties for elections to be conducted using paper ballots instead of EVMs. Opposition leaders have raised concerns about the electronic voting system and called for changes to the existing voting process.

The Prime Minister’s response sought to draw attention to the Congress’s performance in elections that already used ballot papers, turning the results into a political counterargument against the Opposition’s demand.

The MLC elections were conducted through paper ballots, unlike most elections to the Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies, where EVMs are used. The results have once again brought the debate over voting methods into the political spotlight.