Bihar MLC polls: Counting begins for eight seats amid tight security

Counting Begins for Eight Bihar MLC Seats

Counting of votes for eight seats in the Bihar Legislative Council began at 8 am on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, amid tight security across designated counting centres.

The biennial elections cover four Graduates' constituencies and four Teachers' constituencies. A total of 150 candidates are in the fray, and the results will determine the occupants of the eight seats whose sitting members' terms are due to end on November 16.

The Election Commission has made arrangements for counting staff, election observers and security personnel at the designated centres. Officials are expected to announce the results after the prescribed counting procedure is completed.

Which Eight Constituencies Are Being Counted?

The elections cover the following Bihar Legislative Council constituencies:

CategoryConstituencyGraduates' constituencyPatnaGraduates' constituencyDarbhangaGraduates' constituencyTirhutGraduates' constituencyKosiTeachers' constituencyPatnaTeachers' constituencyDarbhangaTeachers' constituencyTirhutTeachers' constituencySaran

The counting is taking place at designated centres in Patna, Purnia, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Chhapra. The counting arrangements vary by constituency and include separate facilities for the Graduates' and Teachers' seats.

Tight Security at Counting Centres

Authorities have put security arrangements in place to maintain order and protect the integrity of the counting process.

According to reports ahead of counting, CCTV cameras, police deployment and restrictions around counting centres form part of the arrangements. Officials have also been assigned to supervise the process.

The counting involves ballot papers and must follow the prescribed election rules. Officials will examine the ballots, determine their validity and count preferences according to the applicable procedure.

RJD Seeks Safeguards for Transparent Counting

Ahead of counting, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) approached election officials seeking additional safeguards to ensure that the process remains fair and transparent.

The party urged Bihar Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Singh Gunjiyal to issue uniform guidelines for determining whether ballot papers are valid or invalid. It also sought proper scrutiny of doubtful ballots and documentation of objections raised by authorised election agents.

The RJD requested that CCTV footage and videography records be preserved and that counting records be reconciled before results are declared.

The party also raised concerns about the possible unauthorised use of violet pens, similar to those used by voters to mark their preferences. It argued that counting officials and agents should not have access to such pens if this could create opportunities for unauthorised markings.

These requests represent the RJD's concerns and proposals. They do not establish that any ballot tampering has occurred in the current election.

Why Has Ballot-Paper Integrity Become an Issue?

The RJD referred to the 2024 Chandigarh mayoral election controversy while explaining its concerns about ballot-paper handling.

In that case, the Supreme Court examined the invalidation of ballot papers and overturned the declared result. The episode has since been cited in discussions about the importance of preserving ballot papers and ensuring that decisions on their validity follow established rules.

The RJD has argued that similar safeguards should be applied during the Bihar MLC counting process, including recording the reasons for decisions on disputed ballots and preserving relevant records.

The Election Commission's applicable rules govern the counting process, including the treatment of valid and invalid ballot papers.

Voting Took Place on October 23

Polling for the eight seats was held on October 23, 2026, from 8 am to 4 pm, with 5,32,847 electors eligible to vote across 933 polling stations.

The electorate included 1,46,611 women and 37 third-gender voters.

According to figures reported after polling, the four Teachers' constituencies recorded a combined turnout of 74.55%, while the four Graduates' constituencies recorded 43.87%.

Teachers' constituencies generally have a different and more specialised electorate from Graduates' constituencies, as eligibility depends on the relevant registration requirements.

Political Contest and Key Candidates

The elections have attracted attention because of competition among the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the opposition and the Jan Suraaj Party.

The BJP fielded candidates in four constituencies, including sitting MLCs seeking re-election. The JD(U) nominated candidates for the remaining four seats, while the Jan Suraaj Party, led by Prashant Kishor, contested all eight constituencies.

One of the closely watched contests is the Patna Graduates' seat, where JD(U) candidate Neeraj Kumar is seeking another term. Mokama MLA Anant Singh backed Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh, creating an internal political rift around the contest.

The results will indicate how the candidates performed among the specialised electorate of registered graduates and eligible teachers.

How Will the Counting Process Work?

Unlike ordinary public elections, these Legislative Council contests use a preferential voting system.

The counting process involves examining ballot papers, identifying valid votes and calculating the required quota. First-preference votes are counted first. If no candidate reaches the required quota, the process can continue under the applicable rules, including the transfer of preferences from eliminated candidates.

The final result depends on the prescribed counting procedure rather than simply comparing first-preference totals in every case.

When Will the Results Be Declared?

The Election Commission's schedule set October 27 as the date for counting and declaration of results.

The precise timing of each result will depend on the number of ballot papers, the counting process and whether additional rounds are required under the preferential voting system.

As counting progresses, the results for the eight constituencies are expected to be announced once the relevant procedures have been completed and the results formally declared.

Key Takeaways

• Counting for eight Bihar Legislative Council seats began at 8 am on October 27, 2026.

• The election covers four Graduates' and four Teachers' constituencies.

• A total of 150 candidates are contesting the eight seats.

• The eligible electorate numbered 5,32,847, with polling held across 933 stations.

• Teachers' constituencies recorded a reported turnout of 74.55%, compared with 43.87% in Graduates' constituencies.

• The RJD has sought safeguards concerning ballot validity, CCTV footage, counting records and unauthorised markings.

• The Patna Graduates' contest has drawn attention because of a dispute involving JD(U) candidate Neeraj Kumar and support for Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh.

• Results will be declared after the prescribed counting and verification procedures are completed.

Bottom Line

Counting is underway for eight Bihar Legislative Council seats, with 150 candidates awaiting the outcome of elections held on October 23. Security arrangements and ballot-paper verification are central to the process, particularly after the RJD requested additional safeguards for transparent counting.

The results will determine representation in four Graduates' and four Teachers' constituencies. Any claims of irregularities must be assessed through evidence and the applicable election procedures, while final outcomes should be based on the Election Commission's formal declarations.