Patna, Sep 22: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced the schedule for biennial elections to the Legislative Council from Graduate and Teachers’ constituencies in Bihar.

Besides Bihar, the MLC elections for Teachers and graduates’ seats will also be held in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh on the same dates.

The elections are being held as the terms of sitting members from these constituencies are set to expire.

According to the Commission’s schedule, eight seats will fall vacant in Bihar, four in Karnataka, five in Maharashtra and 11 in Uttar Pradesh.

With the announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect in the constituencies concerned.

According to the EC notification, the formal election notification will be issued on September 29, 2026, and the last date for filing nominations is October 6. The scrutiny of nominations will take place on October 7, and the last date for withdrawal is October 9.

The polling will be held on October 23, from 8 am to 4 pm, followed by the counting of votes on October 27 and the completion of the election process on October 31.

In Bihar, the terms of four Graduate and four Teachers’ constituency members are expiring on November 16, 2026.

The sitting members are Neeraj Kumar (Patna Graduate constituency), Sarvesh Kumar (Darbhanga Graduate), Banshidhar Brajvasi (Tirhut Graduate), Dr N.K. Yadav (Kosi Graduate), Naval Kishore Yadav (Patna Teachers), Dr Madan Mohan Jha (Darbhanga Teachers), Sanjay Kumar Singh (Tirhut Teachers), and Afaque Ahmad (Saran Teachers).

The Model Code of Conduct has been implemented in the respective constituencies since the announcement of the election schedule.

Political parties, candidates and other stakeholders will be required to follow the Commission’s election-related guidelines during the period.

The ECI stated that its instructions and guidelines related to elections are available through its official channels and are required to be followed by all concerned.

Wayanad (Kerala), Sep 22: Condemning the Bihar student’s molestation case, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday said that the Central and state governments should figure out ways to ensure women’s safety at a time when crimes against women are increasing with each passing day.

Speaking to reporters in Wayanad, Priyanka Gandhi said, “It’s horrible, and crimes against women are increasing. Crimes against women are just increasing. It’s become unsafe for women. It was always unsafe; it has just become more and more increasingly violent towards women.”

“I think there’s no point talking about big schemes and programmes if we can’t even ensure the safety of women on our streets. So it’s really something that all of us need to think about. Wherever there are state governments, and especially the central government, they need to think about how they are going to ensure that women feel safe,” she added.

Priyanka Gandhi’s remarks came as the Jamui molestation incident sent shockwaves across Bihar and beyond.

The incident took place late on Saturday evening in the Madwa Pahar area of Jamui district, where a minor girl student was allegedly stopped and molested by a group of youths while returning from the area. A male student accompanying her was also allegedly assaulted, according to the FIR.

The matter came to light after a video of the incident began circulating on social media on Sunday evening, prompting the district administration to contact the victim’s family and register a case.

Jamui police have arrested Nandan Yadav, the alleged prime accused in the molestation and harassment of a minor girl student, following a police encounter in which he sustained a gunshot injury to his leg, officials said on Tuesday.

He has been admitted to a hospital for treatment.

Investigators identified Yadav through a viral video of the incident. Police said he was the youth seen wearing a red gamchha in the footage that surfaced on social media.

Police have also arrested Ramashish Chaudhary, who is accused of circulating the video online. With the latest arrests, five people have been taken into custody in connection with the case so far, including three juveniles.

Additionally, police said FIRs have been registered against operators of 120 social media profiles across multiple platforms for alleged violations related to the circulation of the content. They said that the individuals are accused of sharing the video or disclosing information that could reveal the identity of the minor victim.

Hyderabad, Sep 22: The dance by a woman with a python around her neck during the Ganesh immersion procession in Hyderabad has created a stir.

A dance group from Visakhapatnam used an Indian Rock Python during a Ganesh immersion procession in Jawhar Nagar.

The Greater Hyderabad Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GHSPCA) and police rescued the python and a hen used in the dance performance on Sunday night.

Members of GHSPCA, along with the police officers from Madhura Nagar Police Station, took action when the group from Visakhapatnam was performing during the Ganesh immersion procession.

According to GHSPCA, the python was found with an oral infection. It is now under veterinary care.

The rescue operation was conducted after the group was tracked for nearly five days by the GHSPCA with the help of police.

The python is a protected species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

GHSPCA members had been tracking the group following information that a live snake was allegedly being used in public shows.

The group, including women, had been performing at various places in Hyderabad as part of the ongoing Ganesh Chaturthi festivities.

The group from Visakhapatnam had performed at Kondapur on September 19. However, the snake handler fled before the GHSPCA team could apprehend him. The next day, the team, in coordination with the police, managed to catch him. A python and a hen were found in his possession.

On a complaint by the animal activists, police registered a case and took up further investigation.

Last year, the GHSPCA rescued eight cobras from snake charmers in Hyderabad. The snake charmers were displaying cobras by keeping them in crates at Sri Yellamma Thali Devalayam, Suramgutta, under the limits of Adibatla Police Station.

The organisation has been appealing to people to inform them if they spot snake charmers. Its volunteers work actively during Naga Panchami to rescue snakes.