BJP targets Rahul Gandhi over ballot-paper results as NDA wins MLC seats

Bangalore: Former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said the BJP-JD(S) alliance’s victory in all four Legislative Council constituencies reflected growing public dissatisfaction with the Congress government, claiming that the results marked the beginning of its countdown.

The elections were held in two Graduates’ and two Teachers’ constituencies, covering around 17 districts and the Bengaluru metropolitan area. Bommai said the outcome reflected public sentiment towards the Congress government’s performance over the past three-and-a-half years.

“People have begun to reject the Congress. The countdown for the Congress government has started,” Bommai said, describing the results as a reflection of recent developments in the state administration.

He said the BJP and JD(S) could secure a majority in the 2028 Assembly elections if they continued to work together and raise issues concerning the public.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Dr. K. Sudhakar questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the alliance’s victory, pointing out that the Legislative Council elections were conducted using ballot papers while the Congress was in power in Karnataka.

In a post on X, Sudhakar asked what explanation the Congress would offer for the defeat when the state government was in control of the administrative machinery.

He sarcastically questioned whether the party would blame indelible ink, weather conditions or allege a conspiracy by voters. He also asked whether Congress leaders would form a committee to find a new explanation for the electoral setback.

Sudhakar urged the Congress to stop making conspiracy allegations and respect the people’s mandate. He also expressed confidence that the NDA would secure a similar mandate in the 2028 Assembly elections.