The Janata Dal (United) on Tuesday, 27 October expressed strong confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would win all eight seats in the Bihar Legislative Council (MLC) elections, with senior party leaders pointing to voters' inclination, government performance, and disciplined campaigning as factors in their favour. Counting for the eight seats began at 8 am amid tight security across counting centres in the state.

JD(U) Calls Patna Graduates' Seat a 'Cool Seat'

Neeraj Kumar, JD(U) chief spokesperson and MLC candidate, pushed back against the widespread characterisation of the Patna Graduates' Constituency as a high-stakes battleground. He described it as a 'cool seat,' arguing that the ground situation was firmly in the NDA's favour.

'This Patna Graduates' Constituency, which is being called a hot seat, is actually a cool seat. Considering the voters' inclination, the restraint shown by our workers, and the seriousness with which the NDA leadership contested the election, we are confident that the election results will be in our favour,' Kumar said.

Rajak Cites Government Work and Public Mandate

Shyam Rajak, another senior JD(U) leader, echoed the confidence, framing the expected victory as a reflection of public satisfaction with the party's record. He specifically highlighted progress in the education sector as a key driver of voter sentiment.

'Our victory is the victory of the people. The public has seen the work done by our candidates, is also witnessing the work of our party and is benefiting from it,' Rajak said. He added: 'There has also been a transformation among people because of the major work done in the education sector, and they have benefited from it. We are completely confident that the NDA will win all eight seats. The people will give us a mandate on a very large scale.'

What Is Being Counted: Seats, Constituencies and Candidates

The Bihar MLC elections cover four Graduates' constituencies and four Teachers' constituencies, with a total of 150 candidates in contention. The Patna Graduates' Constituency has drawn the most attention, reportedly attracting high-profile candidates and intense campaigning from multiple alliances.

Notably, MLC elections in Bihar are indirect or graduate-and-teacher-franchise polls rather than direct mass elections — meaning the electorate comprises registered graduates and teachers, a smaller but politically engaged constituency with historically competitive turnout.

Security and Counting Protocol

Authorities have tightened security at all counting centres, restricting entry to pass-holders only. The use of mobile phones inside counting premises has been prohibited, and officials are overseeing the process to ensure a smooth count. This comes amid Bihar's broader pattern of closely watched MLC cycles, where alliance arithmetic and local candidate loyalty often determine margins.

What's Next

The results are expected to firm up through the day as counting progresses across all eight seats. A clean sweep for the NDA, as claimed by JD(U) leaders, would reinforce Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's political standing ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections cycle — though independent observers have cautioned that graduate constituency polls can spring surprises given their smaller, more discerning voter base.