Bihar MLC Polls: Voting Under Way for Eight Seats

Voting for eight seats in the Bihar Legislative Council began on Friday at 8 am. The contest spans four graduate and four teacher constituencies, featuring 150 candidates.

The fate of these candidates rests with 5,32,847 registered voters. Polling will run until 4 pm, while counting is scheduled for October 27.

Voters are exercising their franchise at 933 polling stations set up across the constituencies. Strong security arrangements have been made to support a fair poll.

The battle for these seats has drawn close attention from political parties. Competition is taking place between the NDA, the Mahagathbandhan, the Jan Suraaj Party and independent candidates.

Administrative preparations have been made to conduct the voting peacefully and fairly. The polls are being held in the graduate constituencies of Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Kosi, as well as the teacher constituencies of Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Saran. Each seat presents its own political arithmetic.

The constituencies together have 5,32,847 registered voters, comprising 3,86,199 men, 1,46,611 women and 37 third-gender voters. Graduate seats have 4,92,594 voters, and teacher seats have 40,253.

There are 150 candidates in total, of whom 90 are contesting graduate constituencies and 60 teacher constituencies. The Darbhanga graduate seat has the most candidates, at 40. Patna teacher and Saran teacher seats have 18 candidates each.

The BJP and JD(U), both part of the NDA, are fighting four seats each. Jan Suraaj, founded by Prashant Kishor, has nominated candidates for all eight seats. The RJD, Congress and other parties are also in the race.

The Patna graduate constituency is under special watch, with several candidates in the fray, including JD(U)'s Neeraj Kumar. Political activity in the seat has already been widely discussed.

After polling, ballot boxes will be secured at designated counting centres. Election results will be declared following the counting on October 27.