Written by: Express Web Desk2 min readUpdated: Oct 28, 2026 05:14 PM ISTKarnataka Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka said the result was another clear warning to the Congress government. (File image)A clean sweep in Karnataka and a strong showing in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar – the BJP is having a good day as votes are counted for 28 Legislative Council elections in four states. The Congress’ poor performance – zero wins, or even leads, so far – has only added to its joy.But the BJP hasn’t had it all its way. In UP – where a critical Assembly election is due early next year – Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party is keeping its rival honest.Tejashwi Yadav‘s Rashtriya Janata Dal is doing the same in Bihar, and independent candidates and Prashant Kishor‘s Jan Suraaj Party have also denied the BJP seats.The big story is the BJP’s sweep of Karnataka – which is a good sign as the party plots a return to power in the only southern state it has ever ruled.And wins in Karnataka and UP will also help counter Rahul Gandhi‘s ‘vote chori‘ campaign, a narrative the Congress leader has been framing since the 2024 Lok Sabha election and which was boosted by the Express’ investigation into the Election Commission’s functioning.01The Karnataka dominanceThe BJP has won three of four available seats. These are the North-East Teachers, South-East Graduates, and West Graduates' segments. All three were previously held by the party. The fourth - Bengaluru Teachers - was won by the Janata Dal (Secular).MUST READ | Why Congress lost the plot as BJP-JDS swept MLC pollsKarnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar accepted the defeat, telling reporters the party will 'thoroughly review the results and institute corrective measures'. DKS was quick to play down talk of this affecting the Congress in the 2028 Assembly election.02Bihar, and still no Congress winBlanked in Karnataka - a state in which it is in power - and UP - a blow ahead of the 2027 election - the Congress fared no better in Bihar.MUST READ | Big Bihar MLC polls upsets: PKs party debuts, BJP veteran losesIn fact, even poll strategist Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj, which was itself thumped in the last Bihar Assembly election, fared better, winning the Darbhanga Teachers' seat.The BJP and Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United), its ally, have won four of the eight available seats. Tejashwi Yadav's RJD won one as did PK's party.And two independent candidates rounded out the list.03In Uttar PradeshThere are 11 seats available in UP and the BJP has picked up five so far. The Samajwadi Party has won three and votes are still being counted for the rest.This result is big too. The BJP has been seen as under pressure over protests targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. UP is the party's fortress - the core of its Hindi heartland bastion. Defeat here, particularly with an Assembly election around the corner - would have fed into the 'party weakened' narrative.That said, Akhilesh Yadav remains a threat to Yogi Adityanath winning a third term as Chief Minister.04And Maharashtra?Wins haven't been declared yet but here too the BJP is leading; the party and its ally - Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena faction - is ahead in three seats.MUST READ | Maharashtra MLC poll numbers throw hard questions at BJPThe Nationalist Congress Party group led by Sharad Pawar is leading in two.The Congress is trailing in the Nagpur Graduates' and Pune Teachers' seats - both of which it won in the last election. If the trends hold, it will be routed here too.05'No EVM, no problem' says BJPOverall, the BJP has been quick to mock the Congress for its poor showing, pointing out that these elections were conducted using ballots and not EVMs, or Electronic Voting Machines.BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari argued this meant voters had rejected Rahul Gandhi's politics regardless of the voting method. The Karnataka unit also took a swipe: "DK, it's done, bro", it said, channelling CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke's (by now) well-worn phrase.The pushback followed repeated claims by the Congress that EVMs used in federal and state elections over the past several years have been rigged to ensure the BJP wins.The BJP has, just as repeatedly, denied such allegations.Many, however, have pointed out these results do not, by themselves, settle this issue, since MLC elections involve a limited electorate rather than the general voting public.