The Congress party faced a major electoral reverse in the Legislative Council elections across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, failing to win a single seat. In Karnataka, the opposition BJP-JD(S) alliance swept all four seats on offer, with the BJP retaining three seats and JD(S) winning the Bengaluru Teachers seat against five-time Congress MLC Puttanna. The elections were conducted using paper ballots rather than Electronic Voting Machines. The NDA targeted the Congress over the outcome, noting that the ruling party failed to secure victory even on ballot papers amid its campaign alleging vote theft. Opposition parties also registered gains in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, while Congress acknowledged the defeat and indicated plans to review results.
