Patna: More than 5.32 lakh voters will decide the fate of 150 candidates in the Bihar legislative council elections to be held on Friday, with polling scheduled from 8 am to 4 pm across eight graduates’ and teachers’ constituencies. Counting of votes will take place on Oct 27.The combined electorate for the eight seats is 5,32,847, including 3,86,199 men, 1,46,611 women and 37 third-gender voters. Polling will be held in the Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Kosi graduates’ constituencies, as well as the Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut and Saran teachers’ constituencies. The terms of the sitting MLCs are due to expire on Nov 16.The election has gained particular attention in Patna graduates’ constituency, where JD(U) nominee and sitting MLC Neeraj Kumar is seeking a fourth consecutive term. His contest has been complicated by opposition from Mokama MLA Anant Kumar Singh, who has publicly backed Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh.Anant has alleged that Neeraj worked against him during last year’s assembly elections. He has said he wants to ensure that the JD(U) candidate loses and forfeits his deposit.Neeraj (59) was admitted to a private hospital in Patna on Oct 19 after he complained of uneasiness. Party sources said his condition was stable and he got discharged from the hospital. Former CM Nitish Kumar visited his residence on Thursday to inquire about his health.The BJP has fielded candidates in four constituencies, including three sitting MLCs seeking re-election — Nawal Kishor Yadav from Patna teachers’, N K Yadav from Kosi graduates’ and Sarvesh Kumar from Tirhut graduates’. Narendra Kumar Singh is contesting from Tirhut teachers’ seat. The JD(U) has fielded candidates in the remaining four seats, while Jan Suraaj is contesting all eight constituencies.Ahead of polling, Patna police have also completed security arrangements in Patna and Nalanda, with police personnel deployed at polling centres alongside magistrates. IG (Central Range) Jitendra Rana said zonal and sector magistrates have been deployed for intensive patrolling and monitoring. Senior officers will remain in the field during polling to monitor security and law and order.Polling preparations were also completed in Madhubani for the Darbhanga graduates’ and teachers’ constituencies. The graduates’ constituency has 32 booths with 29,093 voters, while the teachers’ constituency has 23 booths with 1,707 voters.
