Bihar MLC counting row: Form-16 bid, no CCTV spark protests in Patna
Synopsis
Two separate controversies disrupted Bihar MLC vote-counting in Patna on 27 October: Jan Suraaj alleged a government employee tried to smuggle Form-16 bundles into the counting hall mid-count, while candidates from Congress, Jan Suraaj, and RJD staged protests over the conspicuous absence of CCTV cameras in the very area where ballot boxes were being opened.
Key Takeaways
A government employee from the Commissioner's office allegedly attempted to enter Bankipur Girls' High School counting centre with cloth-wrapped bundles of Form-16 documents on 27 October 2026 .
Jan Suraaj candidate Divya Jyoti said she would file a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India ; the allegations are unverified.
Congress candidate Dr Sanjay Yadav staged a sit-in protest over the absence of CCTV cameras inside the counting hall for the Patna Teachers' constituency .
Candidates from Jan Suraaj and RJD also questioned the CCTV gap, contrasting it with Assembly election counting norms.
Patna DM Kundan Kumar said all arrangements comply with ECI guidelines and that videography is being conducted in lieu of CCTV.
Counting is ongoing for eight Bihar Legislative Council seats , including the Patna Graduates' and Patna Teachers' constituencies.
A sharp controversy erupted at the Bihar Legislative Council (MLC) vote-counting centre at Bankipur Girls' High School in Patna on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, after Jan Suraaj supporters alleged that a government employee attempted to carry bundles of Form-16 documents into the premises during live counting — and multiple Opposition candidates separately staged protests over the absence of CCTV cameras inside the counting hall. The twin controversies have cast a shadow over the counting of votes for the Patna Teachers' and Patna Graduates' constituencies.
The Form-16 Incident
Divya Jyoti, the Jan Suraaj candidate for the Patna Teachers' constituency, alleged that an employee from the Commissioner's office arrived at the counting centre carrying several cloth-wrapped bundles of files while ballot boxes were being opened. Party supporters objected on the spot, demanding the bundles be inspected. According to Divya Jyoti, when the bundles were opened following the protests, they were found to contain a large number of Form-16 documents.
Jan Suraaj supporters noted that their own counting agents had been subjected to strict identity verification before being permitted entry, raising questions about why the employee was attempting to bring in bulk document bundles at that stage rather than later, as prescribed norms reportedly require. Divya Jyoti said she would file a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI). It is important to note that the allegations have not yet been independently verified, and no official clarification on the purpose of the documents was immediately available.
No CCTV Inside Counting Hall: Opposition Protests
Separately, candidates from multiple parties raised alarm over the absence of CCTV surveillance inside the specific area where ballot boxes were being opened and votes counted. Congress candidate Dr Sanjay Yadav, contesting the Patna Teachers' constituency, staged a sit-in protest, alleging that cameras were installed in virtually every other part of the counting centre — but not in the most critical section.
'There are CCTV cameras everywhere in the counting centre, except where the ballot boxes are being opened, and the counting is taking place. In such a situation, the counting process is rendered meaningless,' Dr Yadav said, adding that the ECI should ensure adequate safeguards.
Yadav said he raised the matter with Patna District Magistrate Kundan Kumar, who told him that CCTV cameras inside the counting area were not required under applicable ECI rules. According to Yadav, the District Magistrate did not provide a written response. Yadav said he would continue his protest until a camera was installed or a written clarification was provided.
Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh also expressed dissatisfaction, describing the counting area as 'untidy' and questioning the lack of camera coverage. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate Dr Sanjeev Kumar argued that continuous CCTV surveillance was preferable to periodic videography and called for greater procedural transparency.
Administration's Response
Patna District Magistrate Kundan Kumar responded to the controversy by stating that all arrangements were being made strictly in accordance with the Election Commission of India's guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures. He clarified that CCTV cameras had not been mandated for inside the counting area for this election and that videography was being conducted as an alternative. He also noted that candidates had been briefed on the applicable procedures in advance.
Broader Context and What's Next
The protests come amid counting for eight Bihar Legislative Council seats under tight security. Notably, Opposition candidates have pointed to the contrast with Assembly election counting centres, where CCTV cameras are routinely deployed inside counting halls — a comparison the administration has so far not directly addressed. The dual controversies — the alleged Form-16 entry bid and the CCTV gap — have intensified Opposition demands for stronger procedural safeguards. With formal complaints expected to be filed with the ECI, the counting process in Patna remains under close scrutiny as results are awaited.
Point of View
Procedural gaps need documented explanations, not oral reassurances. The ECI's silence on why Legislative Council counting centres are held to a different surveillance standard than Vidhan Sabha centres is a question that outlasts this specific controversy. If the allegations regarding Form-16 documents are substantiated, they would represent a more serious process failure — one the ECI will need to address on record.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Bihar MLC counting centre in Patna on 27 October?
Two controversies broke out at the counting centre at Bankipur Girls' High School in Patna: Jan Suraaj supporters alleged that a government employee from the Commissioner's office tried to carry bundles of Form-16 documents into the counting hall during live vote-counting, and multiple Opposition candidates protested the absence of CCTV cameras inside the ballot-opening area. The Form-16 allegations have not been independently verified.
Why are Form-16 documents significant at a vote-counting centre?
Form-16 documents are linked to voter identification in the Bihar Legislative Council Teachers' constituency election, where the electorate consists of registered teachers. Candidates and their supporters questioned why such documents were being brought into the counting area mid-count rather than at a later stage as per prescribed procedures, raising concerns about potential interference with the process.
Why were there no CCTV cameras inside the counting hall?
Patna District Magistrate Kundan Kumar stated that CCTV cameras inside the counting area are not required under the Election Commission of India's applicable rules for Legislative Council elections, and that videography is being conducted instead. Opposition candidates argued this falls short of the standard applied at Assembly election counting centres, where cameras are routinely deployed.
Which candidates and parties raised objections?
Congress candidate Dr Sanjay Yadav staged a sit-in protest and said he would continue until cameras were installed or a written clarification was provided. Jan Suraaj candidates Divya Jyoti and Anuj Singh, as well as RJD candidate Dr Sanjeev Kumar, also raised objections over both the Form-16 incident and the CCTV absence.
What action has been promised following the controversy?
Jan Suraaj candidate Divya Jyoti said she would file a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India over the alleged Form-16 document entry. Congress candidate Dr Sanjay Yadav said he would sustain his protest until a camera was installed or the administration provided a written explanation for its absence.
