UPDATED: Oct 29, 2026 20:56 ISTIn this face-off on the recent MLC poll outcomes, Congress National Spokesperson Dr. Nishant Anand and Bharatiya Janata Party National Spokesperson Tuhin Sinha engage in an intense debate over election results across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
Dr. Anand highlights opposition victories in Varanasi and Nagpur, questioning the ruling party's hold and issuing a direct challenge to the government: 'We challenge them, do all elections by ballot paper.' In response, Sinha dismisses the opposition's claims as misplaced celebration, citing the BJP's overall tally of 13 out of 21 seats against Congress's solitary win.
He underscores that the ruling party remains in introspective mode while addressing anti-incumbency, accusing Congress of maintaining an anarchist mindset and behaving like a sore loser regarding voting mechanisms and constitutional bodies. The discussion also examines the opposition's planned rally at Ramlila Maidan and differing views on voter rolls.
Read MoreVIDEOS FROM OTHER SECTIONSLATEST VIDEOSGujarat Court Cites Vedas And Manusmriti, Hands Life Term To 3 In Cow Slaughter CaseA sessions court in Gujarat's Kalol has sentenced three men to rigorous life imprisonment and imposed a fine of three lakh rupees each in a cow slaughter case dating back to August 2024. While delivering the verdict under the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act and other laws, the court cited ancient Hindu scriptures, including the Vedas and the Manusmriti, highlighting religious beliefs that revere the cow as the mother of the universe housing 33 crore deities.
Warning that mother cows would go extinct if offenders were not punished, the judge noted the accused acted despite knowing this significance. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi welcomed the ruling.MLC Polls: Congress Stumbles, SP Gains In UP As RJD Ends NDA’s 30-Year Run In PatnaThe legislative council elections across four states for 28 seats have delivered a mixed verdict, reshaping the political conversation.
The Congress was reduced to a single victory, failing to win a seat in Karnataka and Bihar, which gave the Bharatiya Janata Party ammunition to counter opposition demands for ballot papers. However, the Congress managed to breach a key stronghold by retaining the Nagpur graduate seat.
Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party made notable gains in Uttar Pradesh by holding both seats in Varanasi and wresting Lucknow, while the National Democratic Alliance lost a thirty-year-old council seat in Patna to the Rashtriya Janata Dal.Vote Chori Debate: MLC Poll Results, Election Commission Role & Supreme Court Move Spark ClashIn this edition of 'The Democratic Newsroom', editors examine the political fallout surrounding the opposition's campaign against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and allegations of vote theft. The discussion centers on the Election Commission of India, calls for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, and a joint affidavit submitted by the three election commissioners to the Supreme Court.
Panelists analyze the defense of the SIR process by Congress ministers in Karnataka and Kerala, procedural aspects involving Form 6 declarations, and voter roll deletions in West Bengal. The debate evaluates whether graduate constituency and MLC election results across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar reflect voter sentiment on electoral integrity or previous patterns seen in state elections.
The panel further contrasts the role of judicial resolution in the Supreme Court with demands for the Election Commission of India to address political parties' claims through a press conference rather than written statements.SIR Row: Karnataka Minister Backs EC Roll Revision As Rahul Gandhi Cries FraudA political showdown has erupted over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls following contradictory stands within the Congress. While Rahul Gandhi and the party leadership have accused the Election Commission of fraud and irregularities, demanding a rollback of the exercise, Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi defended the revision, stating the Election Commission took the right step to remove deceased and shifted voters.
Jarkiholi's cabinet colleagues, however, backed Rahul Gandhi's allegations, calling the SIR a centralized conspiracy. Citing the division within the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party and Union Minister JP Nadda attacked the opposition's campaign, accusing them of irresponsible behavior ahead of planned protests against the Chief Election Commissioner.