Uttar Pradesh Minister Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary on 23 October 2026 expressed confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would win all seats in the Uttar Pradesh MLC Teacher's and Graduates' constituency elections, asserting that the party's ground-level work has resonated with voters. He also dismissed criticism of the upcoming Varanasi air show, calling it a matter of national security rather than political theatre.

Polling Under Way Across Four States

Voting began on Friday for 28 Legislative Council seats spread across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. In Uttar Pradesh alone, elections are being held for five graduate constituencies and six teacher constituencies, amounting to eleven seats for which the BJP has fielded candidates across all slots. Bihar is simultaneously holding polls for four graduate and four teacher constituencies.

Chaudhary on BJP's Ground Work and Voter Turnout

'Elections are being held today for Graduates' and Teachers' constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. Voting is underway in five Graduates' constituencies with eleven seats,' Chaudhary said. He added that BJP workers had campaigned actively at the household level and urged electors to vote for the party. Citing early trends, the minister noted that 'people are excited, and a lot of people have reached the polling booths. Long queues can be seen.' He further said he was confident that 'people believe in the democratic institutions of the country.'

Varanasi Air Show: Security Event, Not Political Stunt

Reacting to remarks by former Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai, who had questioned the timing of the laser air show scheduled in Varanasi, Chaudhary said the event had nothing to do with electoral politics. 'The laser air show in Benaras is not a political stunt of the BJP. It is about the security of the nation. This is about protecting the nation. That is how we remain secure and protected,' the minister said. He further accused Congress of 'repeatedly' showing 'recklessness about the security of the nation,' urging the party to avoid political statements on defence matters.

BJP MLA Hits Back at EVM Allegations

BJP MLA Nand Kishor Gurjar also weighed in, expressing confidence in party leadership at the state and regional levels. Gurjar argued that a BJP victory would compel opposition leaders to revisit their criticism. He rejected allegations of EVM manipulation and vote theft, calling such claims 'an insult to the people who elected their representatives.' The remarks echo a familiar pattern in Indian state-level elections, where EVM credibility debates have become a recurring flashpoint between the ruling party and the opposition.

What Comes Next

Results for the 28 MLC seats are expected after counting is completed. A clean sweep by the BJP in Uttar Pradesh's eleven seats would reinforce the party's dominance in the state's upper-house arithmetic ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The outcome in Bihar, Karnataka, and Maharashtra will also be closely watched for signals about regional political momentum.