New Delhi, September 22 (TNA) The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced biennial elections to the Legislative Councils of Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh from their respective Graduates' and Teachers' Constituencies, according to a press note (No. ECI/PN/118/2026) issued from Nirvachan Sadan.
The elections cover a combined 28 seats across the four states, whose sitting members are retiring: 11 seats in Uttar Pradesh (five Graduates' and six Teachers' constituencies), eight in Bihar (four Graduates' and four Teachers' constituencies), five in Maharashtra (three Graduates' and two Teachers' constituencies), and four in Karnataka (two Graduates' and two Teachers' constituencies).
In Bihar specifically, eight members are retiring on 16.11.2026 from the following constituencies:
Member Constituency
1 Neeraj Kumar Patna Graduates'
2 Sarvesh Kumar Darbhanga Graduates'
3 Bansi Dhar Brajwasi Tirhut Graduates'
4 Dr. N.K. Yadav Kosi Graduates'
5 Naval Kishore Yadav Patna Teachers'
6 Dr. Madan Mohan Jha Darbhanga Teachers'
7 Sanjay Kumar Singh Tirhut Teachers'
8 Afaque Ahmad Saran Teachers'
Graduates' and Teachers' constituencies are a distinctive feature of India's indirect electoral system for legislative councils; members elected from these constituencies represent specific professional groups, including registered graduates and teachers, in the state legislative councils.
The announcement came alongside a separate notification for Rajya Sabha polls: biennial elections will be held for 11 Rajya Sabha seats, 10 from Uttar Pradesh and one from Uttarakhand, along with a by-election for a casual vacancy in West Bengal following the resignation of TMC MP Rukmini Mallik. The Election Commission will issue notifications for the Rajya Sabha polls on September 29, with nominations due by October 6 and voting and counting scheduled for October 16.