NDA Candidates Win Key Legislative Council Seats in Karnataka and Bihar
NDA-backed candidates secured victories in Bengaluru and Patna Legislative Council elections, dealing setbacks to Congress and Jan Suraaj candidates.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured significant victories in Legislative Council elections across Karnataka and Bihar on October 28, 2026. In Karnataka, AP Ranganath, supported by a joint BJP and JD(S) alliance, won the Bengaluru Teachers' Constituency seat by 908 votes, defeating sitting Congress MLC Puttanna. Ranganath received 10,810 votes to Puttanna's 9,902. BJP candidates also led in the South-East Graduates', North-East Teachers', and West Graduates' constituencies.
JD(S) leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy used the result to mock Rahul Gandhi's previous criticisms of Electronic Voting Machines, noting that the election was conducted via ballot papers. Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy described the outcome as a historic mandate against the ruling government's misgovernance.
In Bihar, Janata Dal (United) leader Neeraj Kumar retained the Patna Graduate seat, a result that served as a blow to Mokama MLA Anant Singh, who had campaigned for Jan Suraaj candidate Dr. Anuj Singh. Following the win, Kumar taunted Singh in the local Magahi dialect. Other Bihar results included a victory for Rashtriya Janata Dal candidate Dr. Sanjeev Kumar over five-time BJP incumbent Nawal Kishore Yadav in the Patna Teachers’ Constituency, while BJP's Narendra Prasad Singh won the Tirhut Teachers’ seat and Independent Rahul Raj won the Saran Teachers’ Constituency.
