Political rhetoric has intensified between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition parties regarding the results of the elections for 28 Legislative Council (MLC) seats in four states of the country. BJP leaders have raised questions over the Congress's defeat, while the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad faction) has targeted the Mahayuti, terming the performance of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) as better. At the same time, BJP MLA Ram Kadam's statement regarding Naseeruddin Shah has also fueled the political debate.
BJP MLA in Mumbai Ram Kadam talked about respecting the art of actor Naseeruddin Shah, but also raised questions about his old statements. Ram Kadam said that Naseeruddin Shah is a talented artist and his art is fully respected. He raised the issue of praising Pakistan during the launch of a book in 2015.
Ram Kadam alleged that Naseeruddin Shah supports the Mughal invaders, who came to India and tortured people and destroyed temples. He said that praising Pakistan despite living in India, earning livelihood and getting respect from here raises questions. According to him, this is not just a matter of ideological differences but a matter of pro-Pakistan mentality.
Responding to the results of MLC elections, Ram Kadam said that elections were held for 28 Legislative Council seats in four big states, but despite voting through ballot paper, Congress could win only one seat. Taking aim at the Congress leaders, he said that instead of blaming EVMs and the Election Commission for its defeat, the party should introspect.
Ram Kadam said that Congress should review the reasons for its defeat, as the party could not win a single seat in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. He claimed that it was not the EVMs or the Election Commission, but the party's own work and political strategy that was responsible for Congress's defeat.
BJP MP Yogendra Chandolia responded to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's comments on Varanasi MLC election results. He said that victory and defeat in elections are two sides of the coin. Big leaders like Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee have also lost elections.
Chandolia said the Varanasi results should not be seen as a mandate for the entire country. BJP has emerged as the largest party in Uttar Pradesh in the elections for 28 Legislative Council seats. Most of the voters of the country are standing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's social media posts and MLC election results, Chandolia said that Congress has been demanding for a long time to conduct elections through ballot paper instead of EVMs. The use of EVMs started in Uttar Pradesh during the tenure of the Congress government.
Chandolia took a jibe at the Congress and said that the party was able to open its account by winning one seat with great difficulty. He expressed apprehension that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi may again raise questions regarding the election results. Raising any issue of EVM, SIR or ballot paper does not guarantee election results in favor of Congress.
On the other hand, NCP-SP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto described the election results as good for his party. He said that the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad faction) has won two seats, while the Congress has got one seat. Maha Vikas Aghadi won three out of five seats, while Mahayuti got only two seats.
Crasto also hit back at the earlier statements given by BJP leaders. He said that BJP leaders were using the word 'zero' for Congress. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had also posted by writing zero, but after the results of Nagpur, he had to remove the post.