The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Tuesday wrested the Patna Teachers' constituency in the Bihar Legislative Council from the BJP, with Dr Sanjeev Kumar Singh defeating sitting MLC Prof Nawal Kishore Yadav and ending his 30-year tenure. The results across Bihar's four teachers' constituencies also saw Jan Suraaj make its entry into the Legislative Council, while the BJP-backed NDA retained the Tirhut seat.Nawal Kishore Yadav, who had represented the Patna Teachers' constituency for nearly three decades, lost to Sanjeev Kumar Singh after a close contest.
The BJP candidate held a narrow lead of around 150 votes during the initial rounds of counting, but the tally of preferential votes shifted the contest in favour of the RJD nominee.Congress candidate Dr Sanjay Yadav and Jan Suraaj Party nominee Divya Jyoti were also in the fray.After his victory, Sanjeev Kumar Singh dedicated the result to the teaching community and thanked teachers for their support. His win marks a major change in the constituency's representation, ending Yadav's long tenure in the Legislative Council.
JAN SURAJ WINS DARBHANGA, INDEPENDENT TAKES SARANJan Suraaj Party candidate Dr Suresh Prasad Rai defeated sitting Congress MLC Madan Mohan Jha by 324 votes in the Darbhanga Teachers' constituency, securing the party's first victory in a teachers' seat in the Bihar Legislative Council.In Saran, Rahul Raj, a former BJP leader who contested as an Independent after being denied the party ticket, won with 4,965 votes. JD(U) candidate Anand Pushkar, the NDA nominee, finished second with 3,150 votes, while Jan Suraaj's Afaq Ahmed secured 2,454 votes.
Rahul Raj's victory was a setback for the NDA, which had fielded a JD(U) candidate in the constituency. His local support among teachers and the discontent over ticket distribution were seen as factors behind his win.BJP WINS TIRHUT TEACHERS' SEATIn the Tirhut Teachers' constituency, BJP candidate Narendra Prasad Singh defeated Independent nominee Bhushan Kumar Jha by 594 votes.Narendra Prasad Singh secured 2,945 votes, against 2,351 for Jha.
CPI candidate and sitting MLC Sanjay Kumar Singh finished third with 1,967 votes.The result marks a return for Narendra Prasad Singh, who had previously represented the constituency in the Legislative Council. The division of votes among multiple candidates may have helped him secure victory.TEACHERS' GRIEVANCES IN FOCUSThe results across the four constituencies have brought attention to issues affecting teachers, including pay scales, promotions, transfers and other service-related demands.
Discontent over these issues is being seen as one possible factor behind the defeats of sitting MLCs in Patna, Darbhanga and Saran.The results also underline the impact of local support and candidate selection in the teachers' constituencies, with an Independent candidate winning in Saran and Jan Suraaj securing a breakthrough in Darbhanga.- Ends