Darbhanga MLC Counting Dispute: Tejashwi Yadav Alleges 10% of Votes Declared Invalid

Darbhanga, October 29, 2026: A dispute erupted at the counting centre for the Darbhanga Graduates’ Legislative Council constituency in Bihar, prompting Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav to question the transparency of the counting process.

Tejashwi Yadav alleged that approximately 10% of votes had been declared invalid to disadvantage the RJD-supported candidate, Anil Kumar Jha. He also questioned the delay in counting second-preference votes and called for the Election Commission to ensure a fair and transparent process.

The allegations were reported by Live Hindustan on October 29. They should be treated as claims made by the RJD leader, not as independently established findings.

What Happened at the Darbhanga Counting Centre?

Counting for the Darbhanga Graduates’ and Teachers’ constituencies of the Bihar Legislative Council began on October 27, 2026. While the Teachers’ constituency counting concluded, counting for the Graduates’ constituency continued into the following day.

According to media reports, tension developed between counting agents representing the BJP-backed candidate Sarvesh Kumar and the RJD-supported candidate Anil Kumar Jha over the validity of ballot papers. The disagreement escalated into a disturbance inside the counting centre.

District authorities intervened, and police took five counting agents into custody in connection with the disturbance, according to reports.

Tejashwi Yadav Questions Vote Counting

Responding to the incident, Tejashwi Yadav alleged on social media that around 10% of votes in the Darbhanga Graduates’ constituency had been declared invalid in an attempt to defeat the RJD-backed candidate.

He also raised concerns about the delay in counting second-preference votes and urged the Election Commission to ensure transparency and impartiality.

These statements reflect the RJD’s position on the dispute. The allegation that votes were wrongly invalidated has not been independently established by the reporting cited here.

BJP and RJD Agents Dispute Ballot Validity

Media reports said the disagreement centred on whether certain ballot papers should be considered valid or invalid. The dispute involved counting agents associated with both the BJP and the RJD.

District officials intervened to restore order. Reports also stated that the district administration maintained that ballot validity decisions would be handled by the authorised election officials under the applicable counting procedure.

The competing claims underline the importance of following election rules and ensuring that objections about ballot validity are addressed through the prescribed process.

Candidates in a Close Contest

The Graduates’ constituency contest was reported to be close between BJP-backed candidate Sarvesh Kumar and RJD-supported candidate Anil Kumar Jha.

A media update reported that, after the first-preference counting rounds, Sarvesh Kumar had received 16,115 votes and Anil Kumar Jha had received 14,615. Neither candidate had reached the reported winning quota at that stage, making the counting of second-preference votes important to determining the outcome.

These figures were reported during the counting process and should not be presented as the final result unless confirmed by an official election announcement.

Why the Dispute Matters

The controversy has drawn attention to ballot validity, the counting of preference votes and the need for clear communication between election officials and candidates’ agents.

Allegations of irregularities are serious, but they must be assessed through verifiable evidence and the official election process. A high number of invalid ballots, by itself, does not establish that the counting was manipulated.

The final assessment depends on the applicable election rules, the records of the counting process and any formal review or decision by the competent authorities.

Conclusion

The Darbhanga MLC counting dispute has triggered political criticism after Tejashwi Yadav alleged that votes were improperly declared invalid and that the RJD-backed candidate was being disadvantaged. Media reports also describe a confrontation between counting agents and the detention of five people following the disturbance.

The allegations remain claims unless substantiated by an official inquiry or other reliable evidence. Transparency, adherence to election rules and a clear explanation of ballot-validity decisions will be important in resolving concerns about the counting process.