The BJP and its leaders took to social media to target Congress over the NDA’s victory in all four Graduates’ and Teachers’ constituencies, highlighting that the elections were held using ballot papers.

The Karnataka BJP took a swipe at Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday after the BJP-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance swept all four seats in the state’s Legislative Council elections for two Graduates’ and two Teachers’ constituencies.

“DK, it’s done, bro! NDA SWEEPS 4/4 Teachers’ and Graduates’ constituencies in the MLC elections!” the BJP’s Karnataka unit wrote in a post on X, sharing a photograph of Shivakumar.

The party also shared a clip from the film Dhurandhar to take a dig at Congress over the electoral setback.

The remark quickly became a talking point in the BJP’s online response to the results, with other party leaders using the outcome to challenge Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s repeated criticism of electronic voting machines (EVMs).

BJP MP from Bengaluru Central P.C. Mohan took a swipe at Congress over its criticism of EVMs.

“Congress lost with EVMs, then with ballot papers. Now they’ll demand Rahul Gandhi count the votes himself,” Mohan wrote on X.

BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also used the results to target Gandhi and the Congress leadership, arguing that the outcome undermined the party’s allegations about electronic voting.

“28 MLC elections happened on Ballot Paper, Yet Congress under Rahul Gandhi won ZERO seats!” Bhandari wrote.

He added, “EVM: People India reject Rahul Gandhi's Anarchic politics. Ballot paper: People of India reject Rahul Gandhi's Anarchic politics.”

Bhandari further claimed that Congress’s public relations campaign had failed to find support beyond its own ecosystem.

NDA calls victory a trailer for 2028 Assembly polls

The NDA’s Karnataka leaders presented the clean sweep as a major political setback for the ruling Congress government and a boost for the alliance ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections.

JD(S) state youth president Nikhil Kumar described the result as a “historic 4/4 clean sweep” across the two Graduates’ and two Teachers’ constituencies.

He alleged that the Congress government had misused state machinery and power during the elections. Kumar also highlighted that the contest covered 19 districts, including the home districts of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

“This ballot paper mandate, free of any EVM debate, reflects the true ground reality!” he wrote on X, describing the NDA’s united contest as a “clear trailer” for the 2028 Assembly elections.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa congratulated the alliance’s four winning candidates — Shasheel Namoshi, Dr S.V. Sankanoor, K.M. Suresh and A.P. Ranganath.

With ANI inputs