Voting for 11 seats of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council began at 8 a.m. on Friday, October 23, and will continue until 4 p.m., IANS reported. The polling is part of biennial elections to 28 Legislative Council seats being held the same day across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka and Maharashtra, according to ANI, after the Election Commission of India announced the polls following the completion of the sitting members' terms.
In Uttar Pradesh, polling is being held for five Graduate constituencies — Lucknow, Agra, Meerut, Varanasi and Allahabad-Jhansi — and six Teachers' constituencies — Lucknow, Agra, Meerut, Kashi, Bareilly-Moradabad and Gorakhpur-Faizabad, IANS reported. Of the 11 seats, five are in western Uttar Pradesh, two in the Lucknow region, one in Bundelkhand and three in Purvanchal.
Polling is being conducted across 72 districts, excluding Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat and Unnao, where the corresponding elections have already been held, according to IANS and Livemint. A total of 1.418 million voters (yaani about 14.18 lakh voters) will decide the fate of 152 candidates, Livemint reported. Votes are being cast through ballot papers, and counting is scheduled for October 27.
Schools shut, parties watch a 2027 rehearsal
Schools up to Class 12 remained closed across the polling districts on Friday on the orders of the District Election Officer, with instructions sent through Basic Shiksha Adhikaris and District School Inspectors, Livemint and Jagran Josh reported. In Hardoi, a voter praised the arrangements made by the administration, IANS reported.
IANS reported that the Uttar Pradesh elections, coming ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls, are being viewed as a significant political test for the parties. Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav expressed confidence in his party's prospects, particularly in Aligarh, saying both Samajwadi Party candidates there would win — a claim made by the party, with the outcome to be known only after counting on October 27.
Seats: 11 (5 Graduate + 6 Teachers'). Polling: October 23, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., through ballot papers. Districts voting: 72 of 75. Voters: 1.418 million (yaani about 14.18 lakh). Candidates: 152. Counting: October 27.
What is solid
- Voting for 11 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council seats began at 8 a.m. on October 23 and runs until 4 p.m., with counting on October 27 (IANS; ANI).
- Polling covers five Graduate and six Teachers' constituencies across 72 districts, excluding Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat and Unnao (IANS; Livemint).
- 1.418 million voters (yaani about 14.18 lakh) are deciding the fate of 152 candidates (Livemint).
What is only claimed
- Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav's claim that both his party's candidates in Aligarh will win — a party claim, not a result; counting is on October 27.
- How far these Council results will predict the 2027 Assembly election is analysis, not fact; the parties are treating the vote as a test, but the electorates are limited to registered graduates and teachers.
The Uttar Pradesh seats fall vacant as the sitting members' terms expire on December 6, 2026, according to the Election Commission's announcement. Results for all 28 Council seats across the four states will be declared after counting on October 27.