Vote counting for eight Bihar Legislative Council (MLC) seats commenced on Tuesday morning at 8 am, marking the culmination of a closely watched electoral process. The results will decide the fate of 150 candidates vying for positions across four Graduates’ constituencies and four Teachers’ constituencies. The exercise is taking place under heavy security cover, with authorities regulating access at designated counting centres throughout the state.
As the process began, political tensions surfaced at several venues. Jan Suraaj Party candidate Anuj Singh raised concerns regarding the state of the counting facility in his constituency, questioning both the cleanliness of the premises and the adequacy of surveillance equipment. Singh alleged that while cameras may have been installed elsewhere, they were notably absent from the specific areas where the actual counting of votes was occurring.
These sentiments were echoed by Congress leader Sanjay Yadav, who initiated a sit-in protest at a counting centre. Yadav demanded an official explanation regarding the lack of CCTV oversight, stating he would continue his demonstration until the issue was addressed. He expressed apprehension that the absence of cameras could leave the process vulnerable to misconduct. In response to these concerns, election officials maintained that stringent security protocols were in place to ensure integrity.
At the Bankipur Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School in Patna, authorities implemented rigorous entry checks for all staff, counting agents, and representatives. Magistrate Anugya confirmed that all individuals were subjected to security screenings and were strictly prohibited from carrying mobile phones inside the counting hall. Similar security measures have been applied across other venues, including the Bihar School Examination Board regional office in Purnea and the MIT administrative block in Muzaffarpur.
The electoral contest features a broad spectrum of political players. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has strategically divided the eight seats between its allies, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (United) each contesting four. Meanwhile, the Jan Suraaj Party, led by Prashant Kishor, is fielding candidates for all eight seats. Opposition involvement is also significant, with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) contesting six seats, the Congress fielding five candidates, and the Communist Party of India (CPI) also in the fray.
Data released by election officials indicates varied voter engagement across the two categories of constituencies. The four Teachers’ constituencies saw a high turnout of 82.85 per cent, while the four Graduates’ constituencies recorded a turnout of 53.42 per cent. Together, these constituencies comprised a combined electorate of approximately 5.3 lakh voters. The outcome of this election is particularly significant as the terms of the eight incumbent MLCs are scheduled to expire on November 16.
As counting progresses, candidates and party workers remain on high alert. The Patna Graduates’ constituency, described by some as a key battleground, has drawn significant attention, with JD(U) spokesperson and candidate Neeraj Kumar expressing confidence in the NDA’s performance. Officials have stated that the counting process will continue at the designated venues until a final result is declared for each seat.
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