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Prominent leaders whose election has been challenged include senior minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav and MLA Chetan Anand, both JDU, and former minister Jibesh Mishra of the BJP.
Siddharth Prasad, counsel representing the Election Commission of India in the court, said on Thursday that notices were being issued to the respondents in the matter. (File image)
Petitions have been filed in the Patna High Court, challenging the election of 45 members of the Bihar legislative assembly, including Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar, alleging irregularities in the recent Assembly polls.
The petitions were filed by candidates who lost in various constituencies and have challenged the victories of the sitting MLAs. The petitioners have alleged irregularities in the voting process and claimed that several facts disclosed in the election affidavits submitted at the time of nomination were incorrect or misleading.
Siddharth Prasad, counsel representing the Election Commission of India in the court, said on Thursday that notices were being issued to the respondents in the matter.
“Usually, no election petition is dismissed outright. Notices are sent to the respondents and orders are passed by the court after examining the material at hand,” Prasad told PTI.
Replying to a query, he said there is a petition challenging the election of Prem Kumar from Gaya Town. However, he clarified that a notice has not yet been issued in his case. The petition against Kumar, an eighth-term BJP MLA, was filed by Akhauri Onkar Nath, who contested the seat as a Congress candidate and lost by over 26,000 votes.
“Yes, there is a petition challenging the election of Prem Kumar from Gaya Town. But a notice has not been issued, so far, in his case,” he said.
Prasad said that most of the petitions cited alleged discrepancies in affidavits filed by the winning candidates or other violations of provisions under the Representation of the People Act
According to sources, prominent leaders whose election has been challenged include senior minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav and MLA Chetan Anand, both JDU, and former minister Jibesh Mishra of the BJP.
At least one petition has also been filed against an MLA of the RJD, the main opposition party in the state. Among them is Amarendra Kumar, who won the Goh seat by a margin of 4,041 votes.
The ruling NDA decimated the Mahagathbandhan, crossing the 200-seat mark in the 243-member assembly. The BJP and JD(U) together recorded an 85% strike rate in the 101 seats each contested. The final tally placed the NDA at 202 seats and the Opposition alliance was reduced to just 34. Within the ruling coalition, the BJP led the charge with 89 seats, followed closely by the JD(U) at 85.
In sharp contrast, the Mahagathbandhan crumbled under the wave. The RJD managed just 25 seats, the Congress collapsed to 6, and the Left parties together secured only 3. The BSP and IIP picked up one seat each.
(With inputs from PTI)
February 19, 2026, 16:23 IST
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