PM Modi takes jibe at Congress over MLC poll results, questions party’s performance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday took a swipe at the Congress over its performance in the Legislative Council elections held across four states, pointing out that the polls were conducted using ballot papers rather than electronic voting machines (EVMs).

In a post on social media, Modi referred to elections for 28 Legislative Council seats across Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Karnataka, and questioned how many seats the Congress had won.

“MLC elections in 28 seats across 4 big states - Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Karnataka. Elections held using ballot papers. Guess how many seats Congress won?” Modi wrote.

The prime minister’s remarks came amid the Congress’s allegations of electoral irregularities and its criticism of the Election Commission over the conduct of elections.

The biennial elections for teachers’ and graduates’ constituencies were held on October 23, with counting beginning on October 27.

The Congress faced a major setback in Karnataka, where the BJP-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance won all four seats, including one wrested from the ruling Congress. In Bihar, the Prashant Kishor-led Jan Suraaj Party also opened its account in the Legislative Council by defeating a sitting Congress MLC in the Darbhanga Teachers’ constituency.

In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP and the Samajwadi Party secured wins, while counting continued in several constituencies across the states.