Bihar MLC Elections: Samrat Choudhary Faces NDA Unity Test as Eight Seats Go to Polls

Bihar is preparing for elections to eight Legislative Council seats on October 23, 2026, in a contest drawing attention to the political dynamics within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary faces the challenge of maintaining coordination among alliance partners while campaigning continues across the state.

According to reports published by India Today and other news organisations, the election covers four Graduate constituencies and four Teachers' constituencies. The results are scheduled to be counted on October 27.

Eight Seats Across Bihar

The eight constituencies going to the polls are Patna Graduate, Darbhanga Graduate, Tirhut Graduate, Kosi Graduate, Patna Teachers, Darbhanga Teachers, Tirhut Teachers and Saran Teachers.

The BJP and Janata Dal (United), which are contesting as NDA partners, have fielded candidates across the eight seats. The opposition Mahagathbandhan and Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party are also competing, with Jan Suraaj fielding candidates in all eight constituencies.

The contests involve registered graduate and teacher voters rather than the general electorate. The results will determine representation from these constituencies in the Bihar Legislative Council.

JD(U) Disagreement Draws Attention in Patna

The Patna Graduate constituency has become a prominent focus because of differences involving JD(U) leaders. The party's official candidate, Neeraj Kumar, is facing a challenge from Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh.

JD(U) MLA Anant Singh, who represents Mokama, has campaigned in support of Anuj Singh rather than his party's official nominee. The disagreement has raised questions about coordination within the party and the NDA's efforts to ensure that its leaders support designated candidates.

Senior alliance leaders have discussed unity and coordination ahead of the polls. However, the Patna contest has continued to attract attention because of the public nature of the disagreement.

Saran Teachers' Constituency Also Sees Dissent

The NDA has faced another complication in the Saran Teachers' constituency, where Ram Pukar Sinha, associated with the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, initially contested as an Independent against the alliance's official candidate, Anand Pushkar.

RLM leader Upendra Kushwaha suspended Sinha from the party for six years after his decision to contest against the alliance nominee. Sinha subsequently announced that he would campaign for Pushkar, although his name remained on the ballot after the nomination-withdrawal deadline had passed.

The episode highlighted the challenges of managing competing interests within a political alliance during a closely watched election.

Competition From Jan Suraaj and the Opposition

The elections also provide an opportunity for Jan Suraaj to contest across all eight constituencies. The party, led by Prashant Kishor, is seeking to expand its presence among graduate and teacher voters.

The opposition parties, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress, have also fielded candidates. Differences in candidate selection and competition among opposition parties add further complexity to several constituencies.

The outcome will depend on voting among the eligible electorate in each constituency and cannot be determined from campaign developments alone.

Polling and Counting Dates

Polling is scheduled for October 23, from 8 am to 4 pm. Counting is scheduled for October 27, according to reports on the election schedule.

For the Bihar government and the political parties involved, the results will provide an indication of support among the specialised electorate represented by Graduate and Teachers' constituencies. The campaign has also brought questions of party discipline, alliance coordination and local political rivalries into focus.

As polling approaches, attention remains on whether the NDA can maintain support for its official candidates while the opposition and Jan Suraaj seek to make gains across the eight seats.

Source: India Today, The Indian Express and other reporting on the Bihar Legislative Council elections, October 2026.