Congress gets zero in 28 MLC seats, BJP loses Varanasi and Patna, SP gains in UP
India Today ·
The political confrontation between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the INDIA bloc has intensified in Delhi ahead of Diwali, following the announcement of the 2026 Legislative Council election results across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. The INDIA alliance is preparing for a demonstration at Ramlila Maidan on 1 November and a public impeachment exercise targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision process, prompting the BJP to organize counter-demonstrations and a padayatra led by Nitin Nabin in Chandni Chowk. Meanwhile, the Chamber of Trade and Industry and wholesale market associations have raised concerns regarding economic disruptions across major commercial hubs during the peak festive shopping season. Concurrently, election outcomes dealt significant losses to the Congress, which failed to win any of the 28 contested seats across four states. The BJP also suffered setbacks in Hindi heartland constituencies, losing Varanasi seats to the Samajwadi Party and Patna to the Rashtriya Janata Dal, while Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party secured victory in Darbhanga.