MLC election counting underway for 28 seats in four states

MLC election counting began at 8 a.m. on Tuesday for 28 seats across the Legislative Councils of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Polling for the seats was held on October 23, and full results were expected to be declared by the Election Commission of India by the evening. At the time of reporting, counting was in progress and final results had not yet been declared.

The 28 seats break down as 11 in Uttar Pradesh, eight in Bihar, five in Maharashtra and four in Karnataka. All 28 results will shape the composition of the four states' upper houses, and the counts were being followed closely by the main parties in each state.

Where MLC election counting is taking place

In Uttar Pradesh, MLC election counting covers 11 Legislative Council seats across 72 districts, with 152 candidates in the fray. The elections cover five graduates' constituencies and six teachers' constituencies, with 14,81,310 registered voters. Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat and Unnao were excluded from the exercise. The main contest in Uttar Pradesh is between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Samajwadi Party, with independent candidates and party rebels also in the race.

In Bihar, MLC election counting covers eight Legislative Council seats, with 150 candidates contesting. Four are graduates' constituencies, at Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Kosi, and four are teachers' constituencies, at Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Saran. Votes for the Patna graduate and Patna teachers' seats are being counted at the Bankipur Government Girls' Higher Secondary School. Bihar recorded a turnout of 82.85 percent in its teachers' seats and 53.42 percent in its graduates' constituencies.

What MLC election counting covers in each state

In Maharashtra, MLC election counting covers five seats, with 182 candidates in the fray. The electoral battle covers three graduates' constituencies, at Pune, Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and two teachers' constituencies, at Pune and Amravati. In Karnataka, four Legislative Council seats are at stake across 17 districts. The constituencies drawing particular attention include the Bengaluru and North-East Teachers' constituencies, along with the West and South-East Graduates' constituencies, where the main contest is between the Congress and the BJP-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance.

The counts in all four states follow the same pattern: graduates' and teachers' constituencies, where the voters are registered graduates and teachers rather than the general public. That is why turnout figures differ sharply between the two kinds of seat, as the Bihar figures show, and why the campaigns in these seats are fought among teachers' bodies, graduates' groups and party networks.

Security and concerns during MLC election counting

Tight security arrangements were in place at the counting centres. In Bihar, entry to the counting centre was restricted to pass-holders and mobile phones were prohibited inside. Heavy security arrangements were also reported at counting centres in Uttar Pradesh, including the Ramaabai Rally Grounds in Lucknow and centres in Gorakhpur.

Two candidates raised concerns during the day. Samajwadi Party teachers' constituency candidate Sushil Kumar urged the administration to uphold the integrity and impartiality of the process, saying no external pressure from the government or any other entity should be allowed to influence the proceedings. Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh, contesting the Patna graduates' seat, alleged that the counting area lacked CCTV cameras and that the seating area for counting agents was unclean, and said he had raised the matter with the returning officer. Those are allegations by the candidates, not findings by the election authorities.

Counting was still in progress when reports were filed, and full results were expected by Tuesday evening. MLC election counting will continue through the day until all 28 seats are declared.