Intense Competition in Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council Elections

The ongoing elections for the Legislative Council's Teachers' and Graduates' constituencies in Uttar Pradesh are revealing a fierce competition between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party. With the BJP securing victories in several key seats, including a historic win for Umesh Dwivedi in Lucknow, the political landscape is heating up ahead of the Assembly elections. Allegations of electoral misconduct and disputes at counting centers have added to the tension, making this election a crucial indicator of the political climate in the state. As the counting continues, the results will have significant implications for both parties.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 28, 2026, 11:12 IST

Overview of the Legislative Council Elections

Photo: IANS

Lucknow, Oct 28: The elections for the Teachers' and Graduates' constituencies of the Legislative Council are proving to be a significant barometer for the political landscape ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with a fierce rivalry between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party.

As the counting progresses for 11 seats, the BJP has claimed victory in four, while Lal Bihari Yadav from the Samajwadi Party has won the Varanasi Teachers' seat. The BJP has successfully retained both the Teachers' and Graduates' seats in Meerut.

Umesh Dwivedi has made history by winning the Lucknow Teachers' seat for the third consecutive time.

The counting of votes for the remaining seats is still ongoing. The polling for these 11 seats, which includes five Graduates' and six Teachers' constituencies, took place on October 23, featuring a total of 152 candidates.

Approximately 14.81 lakh voters will determine the outcome, with the counting process commencing at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday across seven locations in the state.

Robust security measures are in place, with the entire process being monitored through CCTV and videography. The BJP has emerged victorious in both the Teachers' and Graduates' constituencies within the Meerut-Saharanpur division.

In the Teachers' seat, BJP candidate Shrichand Sharma won with 18,099 votes, while Dinesh Goyal from the BJP secured the Graduates' constituency with 24,928 votes.

Hari Singh Dhillon of the BJP also won the Bareilly-Moradabad Teachers' constituency. Umesh Dwivedi's victory in the Lucknow Teachers' constituency marks his third consecutive win.

After his win, Umesh Dwivedi expressed his heartfelt thanks to the teachers and voters, stating, "I am grateful to all my esteemed teachers and fellow voters. I also extend my sincere thanks to the Bharatiya Janata Party, Yogi-ji, Modi-ji, and the party's numerous workers and office-bearers for their trust in me."

In contrast, Lal Bihari Yadav from the Samajwadi Party celebrated his victory in the Varanasi Teachers' constituency, asserting, "The BJP's claims of winning both seats have proven to be unfounded. Teachers have placed their faith in Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, and the campaigning by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had no effect on the election."

Yadav also accused the administration of intimidating his supporters during the election, alleging that some were placed under house arrest while others were coerced not to leave their school premises.

No official response has been provided by the administration regarding these claims. A dispute arose during the vote counting for the Agra Teachers' Constituency between candidates from the Samajwadi Party and BJP.

SP candidate Akash Agarwal claimed he was assaulted at the counting center, alleging that his 'kurta' was torn, and he blamed BJP supporters for the incident.

This led to heightened tensions at the counting center, with supporters from both parties clashing. Conversely, BJP workers dismissed the allegations, asserting that Agarwal had torn his own 'kurta'. BJP supporters also organized a sit-in protest.

Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar noted that both parties have accused each other of assault, resulting in a volatile situation at the counting center. The counting for the Gorakhpur-Faizabad Teachers' Constituency is taking place at Gorakhpur University’s Commerce Department, where the Samajwadi Party has boycotted the counting, alleging electoral misconduct.

SP leaders have claimed that the democratic process is being undermined, alleging that administrative officials and observers are working to ensure a BJP victory. These claims remain unverified. A close contest is also evident in the Graduates' Constituencies.

In the Allahabad-Jhansi Graduates' Constituency, SP candidate Mansingh Yadav has taken the lead after the fifth round of counting. In the Lucknow Graduates' Constituency, SP candidate Kanti Singh has maintained a lead since the early rounds.

In the Varanasi Graduates' constituency, the competition is between Ashutosh Sinha of the SP and Kedar Singh of the BJP, with the counting of first-preference votes now underway.

The results for this seat are anticipated to be announced later today, while counting continues in the other constituencies.