IndiaPosted at: Oct 29 2026 12:33PM


No, Congress did not draw ‘big zero’ or ‘blank’ in MLC elections as the BJP claimed

Vibha Sharma
New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) Though the BJP on Wednesday taunted the Congress for “drawing a blank” in the MLC polls, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself chipping in with a post on X, the grand old party eventually had the last laugh by winning the Nagpur seat in the elections across four states.
Congress’s sitting MLC Abhijeet Wanjari defeated the BJP’s Sudhakar Kohale to retain the Nagpur Division Graduates’ constituency seat in a nail-biting contest that saw the lead change hands multiple times during more than 40 hours of counting. Though just one in number, the seat in Nagpur, the bastion of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and the headquarters of the RSS, provided sufficient ammunition to the Congress to target the BJP.
Maharashtra's results have given the INDIA bloc a good boost, with the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) winning three of the five MLC seats. The Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) won two seats, while the Congress secured the Nagpur seat. The ruling Mahayuti alliance won the remaining two seats. This is the second time the Congress has defeated the BJP on its home turf of Nagpur, a seat it guarded for long before losing it to the Congress in 2020.
While PM Modi’s post on X about the Congress stands, it seems Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had to delete the “boastful” post, according to the Congress. Not just Fadnavis, but BJP leaders at both the state and Centre had taunted the Congress on Wednesday for “drawing a blank” in the MLC polls.
Prime Minister Modi wrote: “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?” ending the post with an emoji with a monocle.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari’s “big zero” post stated: “28 MLC elections happened on Ballot Paper, Yet Congress under Rahul Gandhi won ZERO seats! EVM: People India reject Rahul Gandhi's Anarchic politics. Ballot paper: People of India reject Rahul Gandhi's Anarchic politics. Congress PR has no takers except Congress ecosystem!”
Overall, the Maharashtra results have given the opposition MVA reasons to cheer and the BJP reasons to introspect. The NCP (SP) has called for a return to ballot papers for holding elections. The results have caused embarrassment for the ruling Mahayuti alliance. The Samajwadi Party also has a lot to cheer about, having made good gains in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, while Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party opened its account in Bihar’s Upper House.
UNI VS AAB
Tags: #No# Congress did not draw ‘big zero’ or ‘blank’ in MLC elections as the BJP claimed
More News

PM Modi to unveil Rs 14,400-crore Gujarat projects, release Rs 19,000 crore for farmers; Lead Patel anniversary celebrations

29 Oct 2026 | 3:59 PM

New Delhi, 29 OCT (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a two-day visit to Gujarat on October 30 and 31, unveiling development projects worth more than Rs 14,400 crore, releasing around Rs 19,000 crore under the 24th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme and leading celebrations marking the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the country’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister.

see more..

Why these MLC elections are important political markers despite being confined to four states

29 Oct 2026 | 3:23 PM

Vibha Sharma
New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) Only six states in the country—Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh—have a Legislative Council or Upper House of their state legislatures. And Graduates and Teachers constituencies for which these elections were held are the ones for which members are elected by graduates and teachers of that state.

see more..

Rajnath Singh offers India’s battle-tested counter-terrorism expertise to ADMM-Plus partners

29 Oct 2026 | 2:58 PM

New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) India is ready to share its battle-tested counter-terrorism expertise with partner countries to strengthen collective security and joint operational capabilities, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday, asserting that the country’s experience in combating cross-border terrorism has been shaped by decades of operational challenges.

see more..

UNI NEWS DIGEST AT 1400 HRS OCT 29, 2026

29 Oct 2026 | 2:34 PM

TOP STORIES OF THE DAY.

see more..

Russia-Ukraine war: The growing gap between military costs and political gains

29 Oct 2026 | 2:32 PM

Colonel Guru Saday Batabyal
New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) More than four years after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, the defining question is no longer who can continue fighting. Russia can. Ukraine can. Their respective supporters can. The more important question is whether continued fighting is still likely to produce political outcomes commensurate with its growing costs.

see more..