Patna, Oct 26: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Monday demanded strict transparency and safeguards during the counting of votes for four graduate and four teachers' constituencies of the Bihar Legislative Council, IANS reported. A party delegation led by MLA Bhai Virendra submitted a 10-point memorandum to Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Singh Gunjial, seeking guidelines to prevent possible irregularities.

Source: IANS via hi INDiA

Polling for the eight seats was held on October 23, with turnout of 43.87 per cent in the graduate constituencies and 74.55 per cent in the teachers' constituencies. Counting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27.

Source: The National Bulletin

What the RJD demanded

The memorandum, which cited the 2024 Chandigarh mayoral election, stressed preserving ballot papers in their original condition and impartial decisions on the validity of votes. The party demanded a ban on violet pens and similar writing instruments inside counting centres, a prohibition on adding marks such as ticks, crosses or lines to ballot papers, and uniform criteria for deciding valid and invalid votes at all counting tables.

Source: IANS via hi INDiA

It also urged officials to examine suspicious ballot papers before counting first-preference votes, sought that authorised agents be allowed to raise objections, and called for continuous CCTV and videography monitoring. Results, it said, should be declared only after valid and invalid ballot papers are reconciled and result sheets verified. Copies of the memorandum were also sent to the Election Commission of India and the commissioners of the respective divisions.

8 seatsFour graduate and four teachers' constituencies of the Bihar Legislative Council going to counting
October 27Counting day for the MLC polls
10 pointsNumber of demands in the RJD memorandum to the CEO

The delegation included former MLA Rajendra Kumar Ram, Ranvijay Sahu, Dr Sanjeev Kumar Singh — the RJD candidate for the Patna Teachers' constituency — Dr Anwar Alam and Mukund Singh. Bhai Virendra told the media the party had conveyed its concerns about possible vote theft; these are the RJD's allegations. He said the Chief Electoral Officer had assured the delegation that counting would be transparent and conducted in accordance with the Commission's guidelines, but added that the party's concerns persisted, and expressed confidence that the RJD would win all eight seats.

Dr Sanjeev Kumar Singh also alleged that some officials had previously faced questions over their conduct and that cases related to irregularities had been registered against them, and demanded that officials facing such allegations should not be assigned counting duties. That claim is the party's allegation and was reported as such by IANS.