States » EastPosted at: Oct 26 2026 6:18PM


RJD urges Bihar CEO to ensure transparent counting of MLC polls

Patna, Oct 26 (UNI) The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) today urged the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar to issue comprehensive guidelines to ensure free, fair and transparent counting of votes scheduled on October 27 in the 2026 Bihar Legislative Council biennial elections to four graduate and four teachers’ constituencies.
A delegation of the RJD led by MLA Bhai Virendra called on the CEO and submitted a representation.
The party, through its representation called for strict adherence to electoral rules during counting and sought measures to prevent irregularities, unauthorised interference and disputes over the validity of ballot papers.
The RJD urged the authorities to examine ballot papers whose validity is in doubt in accordance with the prescribed rules and procedures, with reasons for decisions duly recorded. It also sought an appropriate opportunity for authorised election agents to raise objections during the counting process.
The party emphasised that no unauthorised marks, signatures, lines, ticks or crosses should be made on ballot papers by counting officials, staff or election agents. It called for effective safeguards against any unauthorised use of violet pens, or similar writing instruments used for marking preferences during polling, at counting centres.
Referring to the 2024 Chandigarh mayoral election case, the RJD said the episode underlined the importance of protecting the integrity of ballot papers and ensuring that decisions on their validity were based strictly on applicable rules.
The party also stressed the need for uniform criteria for declaring ballot papers valid or invalid, cautioning against arbitrary decisions based on personal perceptions or unsubstantiated doubts.
Distinguishing voter eligibility from ballot validity, the RJD said questions concerning a voter’s eligibility should be dealt with under the applicable legal provisions and procedures.
It maintained that an unverified allegation should not, by itself, be a ground for declaring a ballot paper invalid.
The representation further called for videography and CCTV monitoring of the counting process in accordance with applicable guidelines, along with the preservation of relevant footage, records and counting sheets for scrutiny by competent authorities whenever required.
The party also sought proper verification of the total number of ballot papers, valid and invalid votes, first-preference votes and subsequent counting stages, as applicable under the prescribed counting system, before the declaration of results.
The RJD urged the CEO to ensure accountability among counting officials and staff, with impartial inquiries and action under the rules in cases of alleged irregularities.
The party said the proposed safeguards were necessary to maintain the credibility of the counting process and uphold public confidence in the electoral system.
UNI RS RN
Tags: #RJD urges Bihar CEO to ensure transparent counting of MLC polls
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