Agra MLC Election Result 2026: SP's Akash Agarwal Leads BJP by 1,029 Votes After First Round in Teachers' Seat

The Samajwadi Party has drawn first blood in Agra. When first-round counting in the Agra Teachers' constituency ended at the Naveen Krishi Utpadan Mandi Samiti on Tundla Road, sitting MLC Dr Akash Agarwal — who won this seat as an independent in 2020 and is now the SP's candidate — had 5,491 votes against 4,462 for the BJP's Hari Kishore Tiwari, a lead of 1,029. SP supporters said their candidate was ahead at 11 of the 14 counting tables.

Agra MLC result 2026: round 1 figures

Two different sets of first-round numbers were reported during the day. Both show the SP ahead; the margin differs:

The difference between the two reports is not explained in the coverage available so far. It may reflect doubtful ballots that were set aside and later decided by the Returning Officer — the SP said about 500 doubtful votes had been separated — but this has not been officially confirmed.

Why counting in Agra stopped for hours

Agra has been the most contentious seat of this election from the start:

• Before counting: After allegations of booth capturing during the 23 October poll, the Election Commission suspended six officials — including a sector magistrate, a police inspector and a sub-inspector — and ordered re-polling at three polling stations of the teachers' seat, held peacefully on Monday, 26 October.
• During counting: Ballots with double marks, missing presiding-officer signatures and marks in a different pen were found. Counting was paused for about three hours while these were examined, according to reports.
• SP's objection: Akash Agarwal said counting was stopped "without any rule" after he spoke to the media about his lead. At about 5 pm, SP president Akhilesh Yadav alleged that counting had been halted while the SP candidate was ahead and asked the Election Commission to intervene.
• Protest: In the evening, SP workers protested outside the Mandi Samiti campus, alleging a halt and rigging; police intervened.
• Graduates' seat dispute: The SP also complained that its Agra Graduates' candidate was denied entry to the counting centre. The administration, including the Assistant Returning Officer and Mathura District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh, called the allegation misleading and said the candidate had been present since morning.

None of the allegations has been independently verified, and the Election Commission had not publicly ruled on them at the time of writing.

The contest

• Dr Akash Agarwal (SP) won the Agra teachers' seat in 2020 as an independent and is defending it as the Samajwadi Party's candidate.
• Hari Kishore Tiwari (BJP) is the ruling party's candidate, trying to add a seat the BJP did not hold.

Ballots for the Agra seats come from 12 districts and are being counted on 14 tables per seat — 11 rounds for the teachers' seat and 20 for the graduates' seat, where no trend was available on Tuesday night.

What happens next

A 691–1,029 vote lead after one of 11 rounds is meaningful but not decisive. Turnout in the teachers' seat was 63.84%. If no candidate reaches the quota — half the valid votes plus one — on first preferences, the lowest candidates will be eliminated and their ballots transferred. Expect a long night and possible recount requests from both sides. Agra is one of only two seats where the SP was ahead on Tuesday night — the other is Varanasi Teachers'. See all seats on our UP MLC result scoreboard.