Congress Retains Nagpur MLC Seat Despite Defeats Across Four States
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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 16 of the 28 Legislative Council seats contested across Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra, while the Congress secured just one victory, retaining the Nagpur Graduates' constituency in Maharashtra.
The elections were held on October 23 using ballot papers, with counting continuing until the early hours of Thursday. The BJP emerged as the largest individual party with 13 seats, while the Samajwadi Party made gains in Uttar Pradesh and the Jan Suraaj Party registered its first Legislative Council victory in Bihar.
In Congress-ruled Karnataka, the BJP-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance swept all four seats. The BJP retained three constituencies, while JD(S) candidate A. P. Ranganath defeated sitting Congress MLC Puttanna by 908 votes in the Bengaluru Teachers' constituency.
BJP candidate Shashil G. Namoshi defeated Congress candidate Sharanappa Mattur by 3,297 votes in the North-East Teachers' constituency, which includes Kalaburagi, the home district of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar acknowledged the setback, stating that the Congress had expected to win at least two seats and would review its performance and take corrective measures.
In Maharashtra, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi won three of the five seats, while the ruling Mahayuti secured two. Congress candidate Abhijeet Wanjari retained the Nagpur Graduates' constituency, defeating BJP candidate Sudhakar Kohale by 3,271 votes.
Abhijeet Wanjari secured 67,231 votes against Sudhakar Kohale's 63,960 after more than 40 hours of counting. The result was significant for the BJP because Nagpur is the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
In Bihar, the BJP won three of eight seats, JD(U) secured one, and the RJD and Jan Suraaj Party won one each. Independent candidates captured the remaining two seats. Jan Suraaj candidate Suresh Prasad Rai defeated sitting Congress MLC Madan Mohan Jha in the Darbhanga Teachers' constituency.
In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP won six of the 11 seats, while the Samajwadi Party secured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi commented on the Congress's performance on X before the Nagpur result was declared.
"MLC elections in 28 seats across 4 big states. Elections held using ballot papers. Guess how many seats Congress won?" Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote.
However, the subsequent victory of Abhijeet Wanjari in Nagpur confirmed that Congress had won one seat, contrary to earlier reports claiming the party had drawn a blank
The elections were held on October 23 using ballot papers, with counting continuing until the early hours of Thursday. The BJP emerged as the largest individual party with 13 seats, while the Samajwadi Party made gains in Uttar Pradesh and the Jan Suraaj Party registered its first Legislative Council victory in Bihar.
In Congress-ruled Karnataka, the BJP-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance swept all four seats. The BJP retained three constituencies, while JD(S) candidate A. P. Ranganath defeated sitting Congress MLC Puttanna by 908 votes in the Bengaluru Teachers' constituency.
BJP candidate Shashil G. Namoshi defeated Congress candidate Sharanappa Mattur by 3,297 votes in the North-East Teachers' constituency, which includes Kalaburagi, the home district of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar acknowledged the setback, stating that the Congress had expected to win at least two seats and would review its performance and take corrective measures.
In Maharashtra, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi won three of the five seats, while the ruling Mahayuti secured two. Congress candidate Abhijeet Wanjari retained the Nagpur Graduates' constituency, defeating BJP candidate Sudhakar Kohale by 3,271 votes.
Abhijeet Wanjari secured 67,231 votes against Sudhakar Kohale's 63,960 after more than 40 hours of counting. The result was significant for the BJP because Nagpur is the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
In Bihar, the BJP won three of eight seats, JD(U) secured one, and the RJD and Jan Suraaj Party won one each. Independent candidates captured the remaining two seats. Jan Suraaj candidate Suresh Prasad Rai defeated sitting Congress MLC Madan Mohan Jha in the Darbhanga Teachers' constituency.
In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP won six of the 11 seats, while the Samajwadi Party secured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi commented on the Congress's performance on X before the Nagpur result was declared.
"MLC elections in 28 seats across 4 big states. Elections held using ballot papers. Guess how many seats Congress won?" Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote.
However, the subsequent victory of Abhijeet Wanjari in Nagpur confirmed that Congress had won one seat, contrary to earlier reports claiming the party had drawn a blank
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