RJD Ends BJP's 30-Year Hold on Patna Teachers' MLC Seat, Sanjeev Kumar Defeats Nawal Kishore Yadav

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has registered a significant victory in the Bihar Legislative Council elections by capturing the Patna Teachers' constituency from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). RJD candidate Dr Sanjeev Kumar Singh defeated BJP veteran and sitting MLC Nawal Kishore Yadav, ending the latter's nearly 30-year electoral hold over the constituency.

According to the final results reported on October 28, Dr Sanjeev Kumar secured 4,487 votes, while Nawal Kishore Yadav received 3,430 votes. The RJD candidate won by a margin of 1,057 votes.

Nawal Kishore Yadav had represented the Patna Teachers' constituency for five consecutive terms, making the result an important change in the political representation of the constituency.

Five-Term BJP MLC Loses After Three Decades

Nawal Kishore Yadav had maintained his position in the Patna Teachers' constituency for nearly three decades. His repeated victories had made him an established political figure among the constituency's electorate.

However, the 2026 election produced a different result, with RJD candidate Sanjeev Kumar securing the support needed to defeat the incumbent.

The contest remained close during the initial counting rounds. At one stage, Nawal Kishore Yadav was leading by approximately 50 votes, with 3,199 votes against Sanjeev Kumar's 3,149.

As counting progressed, the position changed and the RJD candidate eventually secured a clear victory.

Preference Votes Play an Important Role

The Patna Teachers' constituency election was conducted under the proportional representation system using the single transferable vote method.

Under this system, voters rank candidates according to their preferences. When candidates fail to meet the required quota, votes can be transferred according to subsequent preferences.

The changing position during counting highlighted the importance of preference votes in determining the final outcome.

Sanjeev Kumar's eventual victory ended the BJP candidate's long association with the constituency.

RJD Gains Representation in the Bihar Legislative Council

The victory gives the RJD an important gain in the Bihar Legislative Council and adds to the party's representation in the state's Upper House.

The result also provides a political talking point for RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, whose party has been seeking to strengthen its organisational presence across Bihar.

Sanjeev Kumar dedicated his victory to the teaching community and thanked voters for supporting his candidature.

Other Bihar Teachers' MLC Results

The Patna Teachers' result was part of a wider contest involving four Teachers' constituencies in Bihar.

In Darbhanga, Jan Suraaj Party candidate Suresh Prasad Rai defeated sitting Congress MLC Madan Mohan Jha, giving Prashant Kishor's party its first Teachers' constituency victory in the Legislative Council.

In Tirhut, BJP candidate Narendra Prasad Singh defeated Independent candidate Bhushan Kumar Jha. In Saran, Independent candidate Rahul Raj defeated JD(U) nominee Anand Pushkar.

The results also saw all four sitting MLCs from the Teachers' constituencies lose their seats.

What the Result Means for Bihar Politics

The defeat of Nawal Kishore Yadav marks a major change in the Patna Teachers' constituency after nearly 30 years of representation under the BJP-backed leader.

For the RJD, Sanjeev Kumar's victory provides an opportunity to expand its influence among teachers and graduates who participate in Legislative Council elections.

The result also highlights the importance of candidate selection, local organisation and voter preferences in constituency-based MLC contests.

With several parties and independent candidates securing victories across Bihar, the 2026 Legislative Council elections have produced a mixed political outcome and opened a new chapter in the state's Upper House politics.