Bihar MLC Elections 2026: Voting Begins Across Eight Seats, 150 Candidates in the Fray

Patna, October 23, 2026: Voting is underway for eight seats in the Bihar Legislative Council, with 150 candidates contesting across four graduates’ and four teachers’ constituencies. Polling began at 8 a.m. and is scheduled to continue until 4 p.m. amid security arrangements across the constituencies.

According to reports, 5,32,847 registered voters are eligible to participate in the election. The counting of votes is scheduled for October 27, when the results will reveal the outcome of the contests.

Eight constituencies go to the polls

The election covers four graduates’ constituencies—Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Kosi—and four teachers’ constituencies—Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Saran.

A total of 90 candidates are contesting the graduates’ seats, while 60 candidates are in the fray for the teachers’ constituencies. Polling is being conducted at 933 booths, according to reports published by Live Hindustan.

The election is significant for political parties seeking representation in the state’s upper house. Unlike regular Assembly elections, graduates’ and teachers’ constituency polls involve eligible voters registered in the respective electoral categories.

Patna graduates’ seat attracts political attention

The Patna graduates’ constituency has emerged as one of the most closely watched contests because of differences within the Janata Dal (United).

JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar is seeking another term, while Jan Suraaj has fielded Anuj Singh. Mokama MLA Anant Singh has publicly supported Anuj Singh, bringing additional attention to the contest.

The constituency also features candidates from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress. The presence of candidates from multiple parties makes the final outcome difficult to determine before the votes are counted.

The dispute has drawn attention to internal coordination within the JD(U) at a time when the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is contesting the wider set of council elections.

Jan Suraaj contests all eight seats

Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party has fielded candidates in all eight constituencies. The party’s participation gives it an opportunity to test its organisational reach among graduates and teachers across different parts of Bihar.

The BJP and JD(U) are contesting four seats each as part of the NDA arrangement. The opposition also has candidates in the fray, including those from the RJD and Congress.

The RJD and Congress have fielded separate candidates in several constituencies, reflecting a lack of complete seat-sharing coordination in parts of the contest. Independent candidates are also competing, adding to the range of choices for voters.

The results will provide a measure of how candidates from established parties, Jan Suraaj and independent backgrounds perform among these specific electorates. However, the outcome should not automatically be treated as a direct prediction of results in a general Assembly election, given the different voter base and nature of these constituencies.

Security arrangements and polling schedule

Authorities have made security arrangements at polling locations to support the voting process. Polling is scheduled to end at 4 p.m. on October 23.

The counting of votes is set for October 27. Until the official results are declared, the electoral contest remains undecided.

What to watch next

The main developments to watch are the turnout across all eight constituencies, the performance of the NDA candidates, the impact of differences within the JD(U), and the results for Jan Suraaj candidates.

The Patna graduates’ constituency is likely to remain a major focus because of the dispute involving Neeraj Kumar and Anant Singh’s support for Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh. The final result will clarify whether that dispute affected the voting outcome.

For now, the immediate focus remains on polling and the counting scheduled for October 27.

Editorial note: This report is based on news coverage available on October 23, 2026. Candidate performance and election outcomes should not be stated as confirmed until official results are announced.