The elections for 28 MLC seats were held on 23 October 2026 in four states. The BJP won 13 seats, while its NDA partners – Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde), JD(U) and JD(S) each secured one seat, taking the coalition tally to 16. The Congress managed only a single seat in Maharashtra, prompting a public rebuke from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who mocked the party’s long‑standing demand for paper ballots.
Key Developments
- 28 MLC seats contested on 23 Oct 2026; BJP won 13, NDA partners 3, Congress 1.
- Paper ballots were used because the election follows the STV system, which cannot be captured by standard EVMs.
- Prime Minister Modi publicly ridiculed Congress’s demand to replace EVMs with paper ballots.
- The Representation of the People Act and Conduct of Elections Rules mandate ballot‑paper voting for these polls.
Important Facts
- MLC elections use proportional representation via STV.
- Counting proceeds through a quota system: the lowest‑ranked candidate is eliminated and their votes transferred to next preferences.
- Article 171(4) of the Constitution requires MLC elections to follow the STV system.
- Article 80(4) applies the same method to Rajya Sabha elections; presidential elections also use paper ballots.
- Most local body elections (Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad) are conducted on paper, except in Kerala, Sikkim and Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu where EVMs are used.
Exam Relevance
Understanding why paper ballots are used in certain elections helps aspirants answer questions on electoral reforms, constitutional provisions, and the functioning of the Election Commission. The distinction between EVM and paper‑ballot systems illustrates the limits of technology in a proportional representation context. Moreover, the performance of the BJP and its allies in MLC polls offers insight into party strategies, coalition dynamics, and the impact of regional politics on national outcomes – all frequent topics in GS2.
Way Forward
For future MLC elections, the Election Commission would need a statutory amendment to replace paper ballots with EVMs, as current law (Representation of the People Act) ties the STV method to ballot‑paper voting. Political parties may continue to leverage the visibility of paper ballots to critique the EVM system, especially when election outcomes are unfavorable. Aspirants should monitor any legislative proposals to modify Article 171(4) or related rules, as they could signal broader electoral reforms.