Bihar MLC Election 2026: RJD Seeks Transparency in Vote Counting, Raises Concerns With Election Officials

Patna, October 27, 2026: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has called for greater transparency in the counting of votes for eight Bihar Legislative Council seats, submitting a 10-point memorandum to the state’s Chief Electoral Officer ahead of the counting scheduled for October 27.

A delegation led by RJD MLA Bhai Virendra met election officials in Patna on October 26 and sought safeguards to ensure that the counting process remained transparent and followed established procedures. The party expressed concerns about the possibility of irregularities, although its allegations do not independently establish that any wrongdoing occurred.

According to Hindustan Times, the memorandum included demands concerning the disclosure of invalid votes and the handling of materials used during polling and counting.

RJD Seeks Details of Invalid Votes

One of the key demands was that candidates and their authorised agents should receive information about invalid votes at the beginning of the counting process. The party also raised concerns about the pens used during polling, arguing that they should not remain in the possession of counting officials.

The memorandum called for safeguards against administrative interference at every stage of the process. The RJD said these measures would help candidates and their representatives monitor the counting procedure.

The requests come amid wider political disagreements over electoral transparency and the Election Commission’s handling of election-related processes.

Eight Bihar MLC Seats in Focus

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

Polling took place on October 23. The contests involve candidates backed by the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), opposition parties in the Mahagathbandhan and Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party.

The results will determine the candidates elected to the eight seats and affect the composition of the Bihar Legislative Council in those constituencies.

Political Competition Adds to the Attention

The election has featured multi-cornered contests and differences within political alliances. In the Patna Graduates’ constituency, Mokama MLA Anant Singh backed Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh against JD(U) nominee Neeraj Kumar, drawing attention to disagreements within the wider ruling alliance.

The opposition has also faced challenges in coordinating candidates in some constituencies, with RJD and Congress nominees competing against one another in several seats.

These factors have made the election significant for the parties involved, though the results from graduates’ and teachers’ constituencies should not be treated as a direct measure of statewide voter sentiment.

Election Officials’ Position

The RJD’s memorandum was submitted as a request for procedural safeguards. Election officials have maintained that counting would be conducted according to the Election Commission’s guidelines and under supervision.

The concerns raised by the party should therefore be distinguished from verified findings of irregularities. The counting process and any official clarifications will be important in determining whether specific complaints require further examination.

Conclusion

The RJD’s 10-point memorandum has brought attention to transparency and the handling of invalid votes ahead of the Bihar MLC election counting. With eight seats at stake, the counting process is being closely watched by the NDA, the Mahagathbandhan and Jan Suraaj.

The final results, together with any official responses to the party’s demands, will provide further clarity on the outcome of the election and the procedures followed during counting.