MLC Election Results 2026 Live Updates: Counting for 28 seats underway in UP, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka

Elections to 28 seats across the Legislative Councils of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka were held on October 23

Counting of votes for 28 Legislative Council seats across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka began on Tuesday, with security tightened at counting centres. In Uttar Pradesh, counting is underway for five graduate and six teachers’ constituencies, while Maharashtra is witnessing contests for five seats, Karnataka for four and Bihar for eight.

Voting for Members of Legislative Councils (MLCs) is restricted to designated electorates, including registered graduates, teachers and local authority representatives. Elections to 28 seats across the Legislative Councils of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka were held on October 23, with results scheduled to be declared on Tuesday.

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Awanish Kumar Singh expressed confidence in his party’s victory in the Lucknow Graduates’ constituency, while Samajwadi Party candidate Sushil Kumar urged officials to ensure impartiality during counting. In Bihar, Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh raised concerns over the alleged absence of CCTV cameras and poor conditions at the Patna Graduates’ constituency counting centre, saying he had approached the returning officer over the issue.

Counting of votes in Uttar Pradesh began at 8 am on Tuesday amid tight security, with the contests being seen as a prestige battle between the ruling BJP and the Samajwadi Party ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. The counting is taking place across seven districts: Lucknow, Varanasi, Agra, Meerut, Jhansi, Bareilly and Gorakhpur.

In Uttar Pradesh, the elections covered five graduate and six teachers’ constituencies and recorded a voter turnout of 55.24 per cent. Polling was marked by allegations of malpractice, voter intimidation and misuse of government machinery, with the SP accusing the BJP of irregularities while BJP leaders alleged that the SP had fielded ineligible candidates.

In Bihar, elections to eight Legislative Council seats have emerged as a test for the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with a divided Opposition and the entry of Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party adding a new dimension to the contests. The results are also being viewed as a political barometer of support among graduates, teachers and professionals ahead of future electoral battles.

Live Updates
Oct 27, 2026 11:57 AM IST
Bharat Rashtra Samithi seeks extension of Telangana graduate voter enrolment deadline

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) spokesperson Manne Krishank on Tuesday alleged irregularities and administrative lapses in the enrolment of graduate voters for Telangana Legislative Council elections and urged the Chief Electoral Officer to formally extend the November 6 deadline. He claimed that around five lakh voters previously enrolled in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Mahabubnagar were being asked to register again, while multiple verification requirements were discouraging eligible graduates from enrolling.

Krishank also alleged a lack of awareness campaigns and said voters were facing difficulties locating their assigned Booth Level Officers and completing verification. He claimed the CEO had indicated that the enrolment period would be extended but said the decision needed to be officially announced. The BRS urged the Telangana government to address the alleged shortcomings and facilitate voter registration.

- With ANI Inputs

Oct 27, 2026 11:30 AM IST
Counting begins for four Karnataka MLC seats amid Congress-BJP-JD(S) contest

Counting of votes for four Karnataka Legislative Council seats began on Tuesday following polling on October 23. A total of 43 candidates contested the South-East Graduates’, West Graduates’, North-East Teachers’ and Bengaluru Teachers’ constituencies. The Congress fielded candidates, while the BJP and JD(S) contested as allies.

The BJP currently holds three of the four seats, while the Congress holds one. The 75-member Karnataka Legislative Council has 38 Congress members, 24 from the BJP, six from the JD(S), one Independent and Chairman Saleem Ahmed.

Oct 27, 2026 11:28 AM IST
Bihar, UP MLC polls: Counting underway for 19 seats amid party rebellions

Counting of votes was underway on Tuesday for 19 Legislative Council seats across Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, with multi-cornered contests, internal party rebellions and divisions within opposition alliances shaping the electoral battle. Bihar is voting for eight seats, with the BJP and JD(U) contesting four each under the ruling NDA arrangement. The opposition has fielded candidates through the RJD, Congress and CPI, while Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party is contesting all eight seats.

In Bihar, the Patna Graduates’ constituency is a key contest, with JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar seeking a fourth consecutive term. Expelled JD(U) MLA Anant Singh backed Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh, prompting his expulsion from the party along with his wife, Neelam Devi. In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP and Samajwadi Party are contesting all 11 seats, with former BJP ticket-seekers now fielded or backed by the SP in some constituencies. The results are being watched as a test of party organisation and internal unity ahead of future Assembly elections.

- With ANI Inputs

Oct 27, 2026 11:13 AM IST
Who are the key candidates across Bihar's 8 constituencies?

A total of 150 candidates are in the fray for eight Bihar Legislative Council seats, comprising four graduates’ and four teachers’ constituencies.

Key candidates include JD(U)’s Neeraj Kumar and Jan Suraaj’s Dr Anuj Singh in Patna Graduates; BJP’s Sarvesh Kumar and Jan Suraaj’s Dr Mohammad Imtiaz Noorani in Darbhanga Graduates; BJP’s Naval Kishore Yadav and RJD’s Dr Sanjeev Kumar Singh in Patna Teachers; and Congress’s Madan Mohan Jha and JD(U)’s Ghanshyam Rai in Darbhanga Teachers. The BJP and JD(U) have fielded candidates across four seats each, while Jan Suraaj is contesting all eight.

Oct 27, 2026 11:12 AM IST
Bihar MLC polls: Constituencies where counting is underway

Counting is underway for eight Bihar Legislative Council seats — four graduates’ and four teachers’ constituencies — following polling on October 23. The seats are Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Kosi in the graduates’ category, and Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Saran in the teachers’ category. A total of 150 candidates are contesting the eight seats, with counting taking place at designated centres across the state.

Oct 27, 2026 11:04 AM IST
What are Legislative Councils, and how are MLCs elected?

Elections to 28 Legislative Council seats were held in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka on October 23, with results due on October 27. Six states currently have Legislative Councils, which act as a second chamber to review legislation and provide additional deliberation. Under Articles 169 and 171 of the Constitution, Parliament can create or abolish a Council following a state Assembly resolution, while its members are elected by local authorities, graduates and teachers, or nominated by the Governor. MLCs serve six-year terms, with one-third retiring every two years, but the Councils have fewer powers than Legislative Assemblies, particularly over Money Bills.

Read the detailed report by Rishika Singh here.

Oct 27, 2026 10:26 AM IST
Counting underway for five Maharashtra MLC seats amid Mahayuti-MVA contest

Counting of votes was underway on Tuesday for five Maharashtra Legislative Council seats, with the ruling Mahayuti alliance facing the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Polling for the Pune Graduates’, Nagpur Graduates’, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Graduates’, Pune Teachers’ and Amravati Teachers’ constituencies was held on October 23, recording a turnout of 72.96%. A total of 182 candidates contested the elections, which were necessitated by the expiry of the sitting members’ terms on December 6.

The contests have been marked by rebel candidates and differences within both alliances. The BJP fielded candidates in three constituencies, while the NCP contested the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Graduates’ seat and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena contested the Amravati Teachers’ seat. In Pune Teachers’, the Shiv Sena backed an Independent candidate against the BJP nominee. The results will also be watched against the backdrop of the BJP being the largest party in the 78-member Legislative Council, with 35 members.

- With PTI Inputs

Oct 27, 2026 10:01 AM IST
RJD candidate questions absence of CCTV at Bihar MLC counting centre

RJD candidate from the teachers’ constituency Sanjeev on Tuesday questioned the absence of CCTV cameras at the counting centre for the Bihar Legislative Council elections, alleging that it raised doubts about the administration’s intentions. He said CCTV cameras were routinely installed in counting halls for elections ranging from parliamentary and Assembly polls to local body contests, and claimed that cables were already in place but cameras had not been installed.

Sanjeev asserted that he would win the election regardless of the circumstances.

Oct 27, 2026 10:00 AM IST
BJP candidate Awanish Kumar Singh confident of victory in Lucknow MLC seat

BJP candidate from the Lucknow Graduates’ constituency Awanish Kumar Singh on Tuesday expressed confidence in his party’s prospects ahead of vote counting for the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections. He praised BJP workers for facilitating the polling process and said the high turnout indicated strong support for the party. Singh said he expected a large number of ballots to be cast in the BJP’s favour and expressed confidence of victory, invoking the blessings of Lord Ram and Hanuman.

Oct 27, 2026 09:58 AM IST
SP candidate urges impartiality ahead of UP MLC vote counting

Samajwadi Party candidate from the teachers’ constituency Sushil Kumar on Tuesday urged the administration to ensure that vote counting for the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections remained fair and impartial. He said no external pressure, whether from the government or any other entity, should influence the process, calling it a constitutional duty of the administration. Kumar added that SP candidates would emerge victorious if the authorities fulfilled this obligation.

Oct 27, 2026 09:57 AM IST
Security tightened at Gorakhpur counting centre ahead of MLC vote counting

Security was tightened around the MLC vote-counting centre in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, with multi-layered barricading and police deployment ahead of the counting process.

Oct 27, 2026 09:50 AM IST
Counting underway for two Pune MLC seats at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex

Vote counting for two Maharashtra Legislative Council seats — Pune Graduates’ and Pune Teachers’ constituencies — is underway at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune. Visuals from the counting centre were shared by the District Information Office (DIO).

Oct 27, 2026 09:49 AM IST
Counting begins for five Maharashtra MLC seats amid alliance tensions, rebel bids

Counting of votes for five Maharashtra Legislative Council seats began on Tuesday after polling on October 23, with 182 candidates contesting across three graduates’ and two teachers’ constituencies. The election recorded an overall turnout of 72.96% across 2,419 polling stations, with the Amravati Teachers’ constituency registering the highest turnout at 92.6%. The results are expected to indicate the strength of the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) among graduates and teachers.

The contests have been marked by rebel candidates and differences within the ruling alliance. In Pune Teachers’, the BJP’s candidate is facing the sitting Congress MLC, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is backing an Independent candidate. In Amravati Teachers’, BJP rebels are contesting against the official Shiv Sena candidate and the Congress nominee. The preferential voting system could make transfers of subsequent preferences decisive if no candidate secures the required quota on first-preference votes.

- With ANI Inputs

Oct 27, 2026 09:48 AM IST
Counting begins for four Karnataka MLC seats amid Congress-BJP-JD(S) contest

Counting of votes for four Karnataka Legislative Council seats began on Tuesday following polling on October 23. The constituencies are South-East Graduates’, West Graduates’, North-East Teachers’ and Bengaluru Teachers’. A total of 43 candidates are in the fray, with voter turnout ranging from 73.58% in the South-East Graduates’ constituency to 86.97% in the North-East Teachers’ constituency.

The elections have witnessed a direct contest between the ruling Congress and the BJP-JD(S) alliance. The BJP has fielded candidates in three constituencies, while the JD(S) is contesting the Bengaluru Teachers’ seat. The BJP currently holds three of the four seats, while the Congress is seeking to retain its lone seat and make gains elsewhere. Though the results are not expected to affect the state government’s stability, they are being viewed as a test of the Opposition alliance’s coordination ahead of future electoral contests.

- With PTI Inputs

Oct 27, 2026 09:48 AM IST
Counting begins for 11 UP MLC seats amid tight security

Counting of votes for 11 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council seats — five graduates’ and six teachers’ constituencies — began at 8 am on Tuesday amid tight security, an official said. The counting is taking place across seven districts: Lucknow, Varanasi, Agra, Meerut, Jhansi, Bareilly and Gorakhpur. CCTV cameras and videography have been arranged to monitor the process, with returning officers and election observers overseeing the proceedings.

The five graduates’ constituencies are Lucknow, Varanasi, Agra, Meerut and Allahabad-Jhansi, while the six teachers’ constituencies are Lucknow, Agra, Varanasi, Meerut, Bareilly-Moradabad and Gorakhpur-Faizabad. The elections, held on October 23 through ballot papers, are being viewed as a contest between the ruling BJP and the Samajwadi Party ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

- With PTI Inputs

Oct 27, 2026 09:47 AM IST
Counting begins for 28 MLC seats across UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka

Counting of votes for 28 Legislative Council seats across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka began on Tuesday, following polling on October 23. In Uttar Pradesh, elections were held for five graduates’ and six teachers’ constituencies, while Maharashtra saw contests for five seats and Karnataka for four. Bihar is counting votes for eight seats, comprising four graduates’ and four teachers’ constituencies.

Security was tightened at counting centres, including in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. Samajwadi Party candidate Sushil Kumar urged the administration to ensure an impartial counting process, while Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh raised concerns over the alleged absence of CCTV cameras and unhygienic conditions at the Patna counting centre. BJP candidate Awanish Kumar Singh expressed confidence in his party’s prospects in the Lucknow graduates’ constituency.

- With ANI Inputs

Oct 27, 2026 09:46 AM IST
Counting begins for eight Bihar MLC seats amid tight security

Counting of votes for biennial elections to eight Bihar Legislative Council seats began at 8 am on Tuesday amid tight security, an official said. The results will determine the electoral fate of 150 candidates — 90 in four graduates’ constituencies and 60 in four teachers’ constituencies. Polling on October 23 recorded a turnout of 82.85% in teachers’ constituencies and 53.42% in graduates’ seats.

The four graduates’ constituencies are Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Kosi, while the teachers’ seats are in Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Saran. The ruling BJP has fielded candidates for four seats, while its ally JD(U) is contesting the other four. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party is contesting all eight seats. The terms of the eight sitting MLCs expire on November 16.

- With PTI Inputs

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