Karnataka local body polls expose the limits of blaming technology as BJP secures a decisive victory
Published on: December 30, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: Bengaluru, India
The recent local body elections in Karnataka have punctured one of Indian politics’ most frequently repeated arguments. In polls conducted not through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) but via traditional paper ballots, the Congress still suffered a resounding defeat — leaving little room for its familiar explanations.
For years, Congress leaders have often attributed electoral losses to alleged flaws in EVMs, claiming machines malfunctioned or votes were diverted at the press of a button. However, in Karnataka’s local elections, there were no machines, no buttons and no electronics involved — only plain paper ballots, marked directly by voters.
Yet the verdict was unequivocal.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged with a commanding victory, while Congress faced a stinging loss.
The outcome has sparked intense political discussion. If elections held through paper ballots can also result in defeat, critics ask, what explanation remains? Will the blame now shift to the ink, the ballot paper, or the counting process itself?
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The results underline a larger message from voters: the issue is neither EVMs nor ballot papers, but public trust. And in this election, that trust appeared to rest firmly with the BJP.
Political observers point to the BJP’s strong grassroots organisation, disciplined cadre and effective local outreach as key factors behind its success. In contrast, Congress’s campaign strategy failed to resonate at the ground level, despite the absence of any technological element in the voting process.
Ultimately, the Karnataka local body polls have delivered a blunt reminder to political parties — whether the vote is cast through a machine or on paper, no format can mask a loss of public confidence.
