EC announces Bihar MLC election schedule; polling on October 23
Synopsis
The Election Commission has set 23 October as polling day for biennial MLC elections across Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. In Bihar alone, eight seats — four Graduate and four Teachers' — fall vacant in November, with eight sitting members now in the final stretch of their tenures and the Model Code of Conduct already in force.
Key Takeaways
The Election Commission of India announced the Bihar MLC election schedule on 22 September 2026 .
Polling is set for 23 October 2026 , from 8 am to 4 pm ; counting on 27 October .
Elections are simultaneous across Bihar (8 seats), Karnataka (4 seats), Maharashtra (5 seats), and Uttar Pradesh (11 seats).
The Model Code of Conduct is in force immediately across all notified constituencies.
Nomination filing deadline: 6 October ; last date for withdrawal: 9 October 2026 .
Bihar's sitting MLCs include Neeraj Kumar , Sarvesh Kumar , Banshidhar Brajvasi , and five others whose terms expire on 16 November 2026 .
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, announced the schedule for biennial elections to the Bihar Legislative Council from Graduate and Teachers' constituencies. The elections will be held simultaneously in Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, with polling set for 23 October 2026.
Key Dates in the Election Schedule
According to the official ECI notification, the formal election notification will be issued on 29 September 2026. Candidates must file their nominations by 6 October, with scrutiny on 7 October and the last date for withdrawal on 9 October. Polling will be conducted on 23 October from 8 am to 4 pm, followed by counting of votes on 27 October. The entire election process is scheduled to conclude by 31 October 2026.
Seats Falling Vacant Across States
The elections are being held as the terms of sitting members from these constituencies are set to expire. A total of eight seats will fall vacant in Bihar, four in Karnataka, five in Maharashtra, and 11 in Uttar Pradesh. In Bihar specifically, the terms of four Graduate and four Teachers' constituency members are expiring on 16 November 2026.
Sitting Bihar MLC Members Whose Terms Expire
The outgoing members from Bihar include Neeraj Kumar (Patna Graduate constituency), Sarvesh Kumar (Darbhanga Graduate), Banshidhar Brajvasi (Tirhut Graduate), and Dr N.K. Yadav (Kosi Graduate) from the Graduate constituencies. From the Teachers' constituencies, the retiring members are Naval Kishore Yadav (Patna Teachers), Dr Madan Mohan Jha (Darbhanga Teachers), Sanjay Kumar Singh (Tirhut Teachers), and Afaque Ahmad (Saran Teachers).
Model Code of Conduct Now in Force
With the announcement of the schedule, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into immediate effect across all concerned constituencies in the four states. Political parties, candidates, and other stakeholders are required to comply with the ECI's election-related guidelines for the duration of the process. The Commission has stated that its instructions are available through official channels and are binding on all parties involved.
This is a routine biennial exercise, as Graduate and Teachers' MLC seats across several states come up for renewal on fixed five-year cycles. With the MCC now active, any policy announcements or campaign activities in the notified constituencies will be subject to Commission oversight until the election process wraps up on 31 October 2026.
Point of View
But they matter as a barometer of organised voter blocs — particularly teachers' unions and alumni associations — that can influence broader state politics. With UP accounting for 11 vacancies, the largest share among the four states, the results there will be watched for signals ahead of upcoming assembly cycles. The simultaneous scheduling across four states is efficient administration, but it also means the Model Code of Conduct now constrains policy announcements across several politically sensitive regions simultaneously — a constraint that incumbent governments will feel.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Bihar MLC election 2026 polling date?
Polling for the Bihar MLC biennial elections is scheduled for 23 October 2026, from 8 am to 4 pm. Counting of votes will take place on 27 October, and the full process will conclude by 31 October 2026.
Which states are holding MLC elections on 23 October 2026?
The Election Commission has scheduled simultaneous MLC elections in Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh on 23 October 2026. Bihar has 8 seats up for election, Karnataka 4, Maharashtra 5, and Uttar Pradesh 11.
What is the last date to file nominations for Bihar MLC elections?
The last date for filing nominations is 6 October 2026. The formal election notification will be issued on 29 September, scrutiny of nominations is on 7 October, and the withdrawal deadline is 9 October 2026.
Which sitting Bihar MLCs are retiring in these elections?
Eight sitting members are retiring: Neeraj Kumar (Patna Graduate), Sarvesh Kumar (Darbhanga Graduate), Banshidhar Brajvasi (Tirhut Graduate), Dr N.K. Yadav (Kosi Graduate), Naval Kishore Yadav (Patna Teachers), Dr Madan Mohan Jha (Darbhanga Teachers), Sanjay Kumar Singh (Tirhut Teachers), and Afaque Ahmad (Saran Teachers). Their terms expire on 16 November 2026.
Is the Model Code of Conduct in effect for Bihar MLC elections?
Yes, the Model Code of Conduct came into force immediately upon the announcement of the election schedule on 22 September 2026. All political parties, candidates, and stakeholders in the notified constituencies must follow ECI guidelines until the process ends on 31 October 2026.
