Patna posts lowest participation in both teachers’ and graduates’ MLC constituencies
Patna reported the lowest voter turnout among the state’s eight Legislative Council constituencies that went to poll on Friday, according to provisional figures released by the Chief Electoral Officer’s office. While teachers’ constituencies recorded significantly higher participation across Bihar, turnout in the Patna teachers’ and graduates’ segments lagged behind the state averages.
The CEO’s office put the overall provisional turnout at 74.55% for the four teachers’ constituencies and 43.87% for the four graduates’ constituencies. A total of 5,32,847 electors were eligible to vote at 933 polling stations for eight Legislative Council seats, with 150 candidates in the fray.
City performance and incidents
Among the teachers’ constituencies, Patna recorded the lowest turnout at 56.89%, while Saran led at 87.16%. In the graduates’ category, Patna Graduates’ turnout stood at just 36.19%, the lowest across the four seats; Kosi registered the highest provisional turnout at 52.51%.
Polling was largely peaceful across the state, officials said, but there were isolated incidents including minor clashes, complaints of voter coercion and an attempted impersonation using fake identity cards. In Patna, the poll day also saw a political confrontation and detentions:
- A scuffle near a polling station in Mokama involved supporters of rival JD(U) factions after a local MLA campaigned for a candidate opposing the party’s official nominee; police detained five persons in connection with the incident.
- Former JD(U) functionary Arvind Singh, also known as Chhotu Singh, was taken into custody and questioned at Jakkanpur police station for several hours following intelligence inputs that he might disturb public order during polling.
- Authorities reported an attempted electoral fraud at the Miller School polling booth in Patna where impersonation using fake identity cards was detected.
"The numbers were provisional and final figures could vary slightly," election officials said.
What the provisional data shows
The provisional statistics highlight a stark urban–rural participation gap in the state capital, where both constituencies include a large urban electorate. Election officials cautioned that the figures were preliminary and subject to finalisation.
| Constituency | Provisional Turnout |
|---|---|
| Teachers — Saran | 87.16% |
| Teachers — Darbhanga | 79.00% |
| Teachers — Tirhut | 78.10% |
| Teachers — Patna | 56.89% |
| Graduates — Kosi | 52.51% |
| Graduates — Tirhut | 42.15% |
| Graduates — Darbhanga | 42.00% |
| Graduates — Patna | 36.19% |
Polling took place at 933 booths for the eight seats and officials reported that the process was peaceful in the main, notwithstanding the incidents noted above. The final turnout figures and formal reporting were expected to be published by Saturday evening, the CEO’s office indicated.
Local political fault-lines were visible in Patna’s graduates’ constituency where a sitting party MLA campaigned for a rival candidate against his own party’s nominee, a development that preceded the scuffle at Mokama. Law-enforcement agencies said they acted swiftly to contain disturbances and detained persons implicated in the clashes for questioning.
As the state awaits confirmation of final turnout numbers, the provisional data underlines the challenge of mobilising urban electorates for Legislative Council polls and highlights the need for stricter enforcement to prevent impersonation and other election-day malpractices.
