Bihar MLC Vote Count: High Drama and CCTV Row as Results Loom
Counting for Bihar Legislative Council seats begins amid protests over missing CCTV cameras and allegations of irregularities.
The process of the Bihar MLC vote count for eight Legislative Council seats officially kicked off at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. While the state awaits the results for four graduate and four teacher constituencies, the counting centers have become hubs of tension, marked by security lockdowns, heated protests, and serious allegations of procedural lapses.
Security Tightened as Counting Begins
Following the conclusion of voting on October 23, the administration took stringent measures to maintain order. Section 144 has been imposed within a 200-meter radius of all counting centers to prevent unrest. Patna Divisional Commissioner Rajesh Kumar has indicated that the results are expected to be finalized by the evening, with the Patna teacher constituency likely to be the first to announce its winner.
The CCTV Controversy and Candidate Protests
Despite the heavy security outside, the interior of the counting halls has become a point of contention. Several candidates have raised alarms over the absence of CCTV cameras inside the rooms where the votes are being tallied.
- Anuj Singh: The Jan Suraaj candidate for the Patna graduate constituency has formally alleged a lack of surveillance and poor sanitation at the center. He has announced his intention to send a formal complaint via email to the Election Commission. Reports also suggest that there were attempts to block Singh from entering the counting center.
- Dr. Sanjay Kumar & Dr. Sanjeev Kumar: The Congress nominee and the RJD teacher constituency candidate, respectively, have staged protests and sit-ins, demanding transparency through CCTV monitoring.
Administrative Clarification
Addressing the growing outcry, Patna District Magistrate Kundan Kumar clarified the legal standing of the surveillance issue. He stated that according to the current Election Commission guidelines specifically for these council elections, there is no mandatory requirement to install CCTV cameras inside the counting rooms. He noted that these rules differ from the protocols followed during Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections.
Suspicious Activity and Detentions
The tension escalated further when Divya Jyoti, a Jan Suraaj candidate for the teacher constituency, spotted an individual carrying a suspicious file. Jyoti claimed the file contained sensitive documents, including Form-16. The individual was promptly detained by the police and is currently under investigation.
Political Fallout and Rivalries
The election has also triggered significant political shifts. Mokama MLA Anant Singh has thrown his weight behind Anuj Singh. This support came at a high personal cost, as Anant Singh was expelled from the JD(U) on October 24 for alleged anti-party activities, specifically for opposing the incumbent MLC Neeraj Kumar.
As the Bihar Election Commission oversees the final stages of the count, the atmosphere remains electric. Supporters of both the JD(U) candidate Neeraj Kumar and Anant Singh have already begun celebrations, each confident of a victory in this high-stakes battle for the Legislative Council.