Counting Starts for 28 Council Seats as UP Suspends Six Officials

Ballot counting began at 8 am Tuesday for 28 Legislative Council seats across four states, as six Uttar Pradesh officials faced suspension over election lapses. The results will decide contests among registered graduates, teachers and other designated voters, not the general public. The count is also underway as election safeguards face challenges in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. ^1,9

The six suspensions stem from problems during polling in Agra’s teachers’ constituency, where officials found gaps in supervision and breaches of election rules. The Election Commission also ordered action against five presiding officers and 16 police personnel. Repolling took place at three booths after allegations of booth capturing. Polling for Uttar Pradesh’s 11 seats was held on October 23, with 55.24 per cent turnout among 1,481,310 registered voters. ^8,9

The Agra lapses have made the count especially sensitive, with the BJP and Samajwadi Party watching results ahead of Uttar Pradesh’s 2027 Assembly election. In Patna, Congress candidate Sanjay Yadav staged a sit-in, saying cameras were missing from the area where ballots were opened and counted. Jan Suraaj and RJD candidates also questioned the arrangements. The district magistrate told Yadav cameras were not required there under election rules, according to the candidate; officials were also filming the count. ^4,7

The Patna objections concern eight Bihar seats, while the other contests cover 11 seats in Uttar Pradesh, five in Maharashtra and four in Karnataka. Results were expected Tuesday evening, though preferential voting could extend counting in Karnataka. As results emerge, the Election Commission’s handling of the Agra complaints and Patna candidates’ concerns will shape confidence in the process. ^2,3,9