The National Democratic Alliance won 16 of 28 MLC seats in four states, but Opposition parties took key constituencies including Nagpur on 23 October.
Election Overview
The NDA claimed 16 seats out of 28 contested in biennial Legislative Council elections held on 23 October across Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Karnataka. The BJP won 13 seats, while its alliance partners Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), Janata Dal (United), and Janata Dal (Secular) secured one seat each. Notably, the NDA achieved a clean sweep of all four seats in Karnataka.
Opposition parties made gains in major centers such as Varanasi, Patna, Nagpur, Lucknow, and Agra. The Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party won five seats in Uttar Pradesh, including victories in Lucknow and Agra Graduates’ constituencies, symbolizing a setback for the BJP in the state.
In Maharashtra, the Nationalist Congress Party won two seats, Congress one, limiting the NDA to two wins. In Bihar, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Jan Suraaj Party each claimed a seat.
Key Points
- MLC elections held for 28 seats across four states.
- BJP secured 13 seats; NDA total 16.
- Opposition won in Nagpur, Varanasi, Lucknow, and Patna.
- Karnataka saw NDA win all four seats.
- Fierce battles in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
Results in Bihar and Maharashtra
In Bihar, the NDA retained four of eight seats. JD(U) candidate Neeraj Kumar won his seat, and BJP’s Narendra Prasad Singh defeated CPI’s Sanjay Kumar Singh in Tirhut Teachers’ constituency. The Patna Teachers’ seat, previously held five times by Naval Kishore Yadav (BJP), was won by RJD’s Sanjeev Kumar. Rahul Raj, expelled from BJP, won independently in Saran Teachers’ constituency. Jan Suraaj Party’s Dr. Suresh Prasad Rai won Darbhanga Teachers’ seat.
In Maharashtra, BJP’s Kausthub Gawde won Pune Teachers’ seat amid tough competition from Shiv Sena-backed Independent Sachin Sanap. The NCP retained Pune Graduates’ and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Graduates’ seats. Congress’s Abhijeet Wanjari held Nagpur Graduates’ seat after nearly two days of counting, defeating BJP’s Sudhakar Kohale by 3,271 votes. This result caused Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to delete a premature tweet mocking Congress.
Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka Outcomes
Uttar Pradesh elections showed BJP winning six of 11 seats, a drop of one seat since 2020. The Samajwadi Party gained two seats, including key wins in Varanasi and Lucknow graduates’ segments. BJP’s losses surprised many as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath campaigned actively for candidates. Akhilesh Yadav declared BJP ‘completely wiped out’ in UP MLC polls.
Karnataka saw the BJP retain three seats, with the JD(S) clinching Bengaluru Teachers’ constituency formerly held by Congress. Around 3.25 lakh voters participated. The results intensified pressure on Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar amid allegations involving sting operations.
