'Rahul Gandhi can't win even with ballot papers': BJP takes a dig as NDA sweeps MLC polls in Congress-ruled Karnataka

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sudhanshu Trivedi on Wednesday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over allegations of electoral malpractice, arguing that the Congress's performance in Legislative Council elections undermined its claims about the voting process.

Addressing a press conference, Trivedi said the Congress had failed to win seats in the Legislative Council elections despite the use of ballot papers and ballot boxes. His remarks came after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular), won all four seats in the Karnataka Legislative Council elections.

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“Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, who made a storm out of a lie about the electoral process instead of just letting it go. Their desire for anarchy seems to have been shattered today by the results of the MLC elections. In the elections held for state legislative councils across various states in India, the Congress is currently at zero. They might not like it, but they are at zero,” Trivedi said.

Sudhanshu Trivedi targets Congress over ballot paper elections

Trivedi argued that the Congress's performance in elections conducted using ballot papers weakened its allegations against electronic voting machines (EVMs). He claimed the party had failed to secure voter support regardless of the method used to conduct elections.

“These elections were held using ballots, ballot boxes, and ballot papers. Even in those elections, the Congress failed to make its presence felt. To help the Congress folks understand this better, I would like to say that they have failed to prove their existence. This makes it clear that the Congress lacks the ability to win the support of the public or the voters in any kind of election, whether it is done using EVM machines or ballot papers,” he said.

The BJP leader also questioned Gandhi's proposed protests, alleging that his political activities would not help the Congress regain public support.

“So I would like to tell the Congress party that if a person is delusional or has lost their mind, even if you hold elections using ballot papers, they will still come up empty. Therefore, the Congress party should understand that Rahul Gandhi, who is talking about holding protests to create problems in India's economy after touring and sightseeing for about two weeks, should realise that neither the public nor the MLAs are with you,” Trivedi said.

Trivedi criticises Rahul Gandhi's Vietnam visit

Trivedi also contrasted Gandhi's recent visit to Vietnam with the political engagements of senior BJP leaders, including party president Nitin Nabin and Union home minister Amit Shah.

“Our national president Nitin Nabin ji is going to Uttar Pradesh. Amit Shah ji is in Punjab and what Rahul Gandhi is roaming around in Vietnam and then he thinks he will get public support,” he said.

Trivedi urged the Congress to focus on its political work rather than continue raising allegations of vote theft.

“The problem is not in the EVM machines, nor in the voter lists, nor in the ballots; the problem is in the delusion in their minds and in the habit of not working. That is why I would like to tell Congress again: give up your habit of not working; the word vote theft will automatically drop from your mouth,” he said.

Karnataka MLC election results: NDA wins all four seats

The BJP-JD(S) alliance secured a clean sweep in the Karnataka Legislative Council elections, winning all four seats — two Teachers' constituencies and two Graduates' constituencies.

Polling took place across 19 districts, covering nearly two-thirds of Karnataka. The constituencies included areas linked to the home districts of former chief minister Siddaramaiah and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

The NDA fielded three BJP candidates and one JD(S) candidate. The results gave the alliance victories across all four constituencies, defeating Congress candidates in each contest.

Bengaluru Teachers' seat: JD(S) candidate defeats Congress MLC

JD(S) candidate AP Ranganath won the Bengaluru Teachers' constituency, defeating Congress leader Puttanna, a five-time MLC.

In the North-East Teachers' constituency, BJP candidate Shashil G Namoshi secured his fifth victory. He defeated Congress candidate Sharanappa Mattur by 3,297 votes, winning 15,596 votes against Mattur's 12,299.

Counting in Kalaburagi was completed after around 30,253 people voted. Of the votes cast, 28,380 were declared valid, while 1,873 were rejected.

BJP wins both Graduates' constituencies

BJP candidates S V Sankanur and K M Suresh won the two Graduates' constituencies, completing the NDA's four-seat sweep.

Sankanur retained the West Graduates' seat for a third consecutive term, defeating Congress candidate Mohan Limbikai.

The results gave the BJP-JD(S) alliance victories in both Teachers' constituencies and both Graduates' constituencies. Trivedi cited the outcome while attacking the Congress over its allegations concerning the electoral process.

The Congress has repeatedly raised concerns about electoral fairness and alleged vote theft, while the BJP has rejected those claims. Trivedi's remarks on Wednesday linked the Karnataka results to the wider political dispute between the two parties over elections and voting methods.


Inputs from ANI