Bihar MLC polls: 57.2 pc turnout in teachers’ seats, 29.32% in graduates’ seats in six hours

The Saran Teachers’ constituency recorded the highest turnout at 13.56%, as the Patna Graduates seat drew attention over a rift within the JD(U)

Updated - October 23, 2026 05:03 pm IST - Patna

JD(U) National President Nitish Kumar conducts a review of the 2026 MLC elections for the eight Legislative Council seats in the Graduate and Teacher constituencies at the party office, in Patna. | Photo Credit: ANI

The biennial election to eight Bihar Legislative Council seats on Friday (October 23, 2026) witnessed 29.32% polling in the four graduates’ constituencies and 57.2 per cent voting in as many teachers’ seats in the first six hours.

According to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Darbhanga Teachers’ constituency recorded the highest turnout at 67%, followed by Saran at 58.98.% As many as 5.32 lakh voters were eligible to vote in the polls that will decide the electoral fate of the 150 candidates in the fray.

Among the graduates’ constituencies, Kosi recorded 34.03% voting till 2 p.m., followed by Tirhut at 30.8%, Patna at 25.93% and Darbhanga at 25%. As for the teachers’ seats, Darbhanga and Saran were followed by Tirhut, which recorded 52.15% polling and Patna at 51.79%.

Voting commenced at 8 a.m. and will continue till 4 p.m. Counting of votes will take place on October 27. “Polling has largely been peaceful so far,” an official said.

Supporters of JD(U) MLA Anant Singh and the party’s Patna Graduates candidate Neeraj Kumar clashed in Mokama, prompting police to intervene and detain several individuals. The MLA’s close aide Chhotu Singh was detained by police in the state capital for “allegedly disrupting peace and order.”

The contest in the Patna Graduates constituency has drawn most attention following a rift within the JD(U), with Anant Singh backing Jan Suraaj Party candidate Anuj Singh against his own party’s nominee, Neeraj Kumar.

About the detention, the Mokama MLA said, “These tactics won’t work. My people have been detained at several police stations. This will only benefit us. People’s mandate is with Anuj Singh.”

Mr. Kumar, a former Minister and a close aide of ex-Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is seeking a fourth consecutive term in the seat. Anant Singh has extended support to Anuj Singh, alleging that Neeraj Kumar had worked against him during last year’s assembly elections.

“Neeraj has always fought elections on Nitish Kumar’s name. He has got no credibility. What contribution has he made to the party? The party is putting its weight behind him but was silent when he opposed me in previous elections. I am ready to face any action taken by the party,” Anant Singh said.

On Nitish Kumar meeting Neeraj Kumar on Thursday (October 22), the Mokama MLA said the JD(U) chief “goes wherever they take him”. He and Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor have been claiming that JD(U) candidate Neeraj Kumar doesn’t have the support of the party chief.

Neeraj Kumar offered prayers at Baba Parshuram Temple in Barh before casting his vote, while Anant Singh’s supporters burst firecrackers in anticipation of Anuj Singh’s victory in Patna.

JD(U) leader Shyam Rajak, whose party is a major constituent of the ruling alliance, said voting was smooth and that there was a wave of support for the NDA. Party MP Devesh Chandra Thakur, who cast his vote in Tirhut Graduates’ constituency, urged voters to exercise their franchise in large numbers, irrespective of the candidate they vote for.

One of the early voters in Patna Teachers’ constituency, Murli Manohar Srivastava, told PTI Videos, “The biggest issue this time is that of teachers working in unaided schools who do not receive proper government financial assistance. Our long-standing demand has been for a formal pay scale, pension and social security. We have been making sustained and strong appeals for it to be fulfilled.”

The 1981 Non-Funded Education Policy was modified by the Nitish Kumar-led government in 2008 to usher in a performance-based grant system.

Under it, the Bihar government provides post-result grants to private or community-run educational institutions that largely sustain themselves on students’ fees. The staff there do not have a regular pay scale, leading to unstable income.

Mr. Srivastava said Mr. Yadav has been consistently working on this issue and has even secured an announcement from the Samrat Choudhary government.

Mr. Yadav, the BJP candidate from Patna Teachers’ Constituency, has held the seat for the past 30 years. “I thank all teachers for their support. I will not only win the election this time but also ensure forfeiture of the security deposit of opposing candidates,” he said after casting his vote.