ECI announces polls for 10 Bihar Legislative Council seats; voting June 18
Synopsis
The ECI has called elections for 10 Bihar Legislative Council seats on June 18 — including a by-poll for the seat vacated by Nitish Kumar after his elevation to the Rajya Sabha. With the NDA holding 201 assembly seats, political observers see a near-certain sweep of nine seats, but strategic maneuvering over the tenth could replay the drama of Bihar's recent Rajya Sabha contest.
Key Takeaways
The Election Commission of India has announced elections for 10 Bihar Legislative Council seats , with polling on June 18 .
One by-election will be held for the seat vacated by former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after his election to the Rajya Sabha .
Nine biennial elections cover members whose terms end on June 28 , including seats already vacant due to Samrat Choudhary and Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha winning assembly seats.
The election notification will be issued on June 1 ; nominations close on June 8 ; results will be declared on June 18 at 5 pm .
The NDA commands 201 assembly legislators , making it near-certain to win at least 9 of the 10 seats , according to political observers.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced elections for 10 vacant seats of the Bihar Legislative Council, with polling scheduled for June 18. The Commission issued formal notifications on Tuesday, covering both a by-election and biennial elections across the council vacancies.
Two Distinct Polls, One Schedule
Of the 10 seats, one by-election will be held for the seat vacated by former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who moved to the Rajya Sabha. The remaining nine seats are subject to biennial elections, as their sitting members are set to complete their terms on June 28.
The nine outgoing members are Dr Kumud Verma, Professor Ghulam Ghaus, Mohammad Farooq, Bhishma Sahani, Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha, Sanjay Prakash, Sameer Kumar Singh, Samrat Choudhary, and Sunil Kumar Singh. Notably, the seats previously held by Samrat Choudhary and Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha are already vacant, as both leaders won seats in the Bihar Legislative Assembly.
Key Dates in the Election Schedule
The official election notification will be issued on June 1. The last date for filing nominations is June 8, with scrutiny of papers on June 9 and the withdrawal deadline set for June 11. Polling will be conducted on June 18 between 9 am and 4 pm, with results declared the same day at 5 pm. The ECI has issued separate notifications for the by-election and the nine biennial vacancies. Simultaneously, elections for certain Karnataka Legislative Council seats will also be conducted under the same schedule.
NDA's Numerical Advantage
Politically, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds a commanding majority in the Bihar Assembly with 201 legislators. Given this arithmetic, political observers believe the NDA is almost certain to secure nine of the ten seats, with the opposition potentially winning one. This comes amid intensifying discussions over the prospect of political manoeuvring should the NDA choose to contest all 10 seats — a scenario drawing comparisons with the high-stakes strategic battles seen during recent Rajya Sabha elections in Bihar.
What This Means for Bihar Politics
The elections are a significant test of the NDA's organisational strength ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections due later this year. The by-election for Nitish Kumar's former seat carries symbolic weight, reflecting the transition of Bihar's longest-serving chief minister to the national upper house. How the opposition consolidates its limited numbers to contest even one seat will be closely watched as an indicator of its strategic cohesion.
Point of View
Which doubles as a symbolic ratification of his Rajya Sabha move and his continued grip over Bihar's political machinery. The opposition's only leverage is whether it can engineer a Rajya Sabha-style surprise on the tenth seat, exploiting any NDA overconfidence or internal discord. With assembly elections on the horizon, how the NDA manages candidate selection across all 10 seats will signal whether its coalition discipline holds — or begins to fray under competing ambitions.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are elections being held for 10 Bihar Legislative Council seats?
The Election Commission of India announced elections for 10 seats because one seat was vacated by former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after his election to the Rajya Sabha, while nine other members are completing their terms on June 28. Two of the nine seats are already vacant as those members won Bihar Assembly seats.
When is polling scheduled for the Bihar Legislative Council elections?
Polling is scheduled for June 18, between 9 am and 4 pm. Results will be declared the same day at 5 pm.
What is the full election schedule for the Bihar Legislative Council polls?
The official notification will be issued on June 1. The last date for nominations is June 8, scrutiny of papers is on June 9, and the withdrawal deadline is June 11. Voting takes place on June 18 with same-day counting.
How strong is the NDA's position in the Bihar Legislative Council elections?
The NDA holds a commanding majority in the Bihar Assembly with 201 legislators, which gives it near-certain control over the council elections. Political observers expect the alliance to win nine of the ten seats, with the opposition likely to secure at most one.
Which members are vacating their Bihar Legislative Council seats?
The nine outgoing members are Dr Kumud Verma, Professor Ghulam Ghaus, Mohammad Farooq, Bhishma Sahani, Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha, Sanjay Prakash, Sameer Kumar Singh, Samrat Choudhary, and Sunil Kumar Singh. The tenth seat was vacated by Nitish Kumar after his Rajya Sabha election.
