The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced biennial elections to 37 Rajya Sabha seats, with voting and counting scheduled for March 16, 2026. The elections have been necessitated as the terms of the current MPs from these seats are set to expire in April.
The polls will be held in ten states: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh.
The full schedule issued by the ECI specifies that notifications will be issued on February 26, nominations filed by March 5, scrutiny of nominations conducted on March 6, and withdrawal of candidature permitted until March 9. Polling will run from 9 am to 4 pm on March 16, with counting starting at 5 pm the same day. The process is expected to conclude by March 20.
Among the 37 MPs set to retire are Sharad Pawar, Priyanka Chaturvedi, and Ramdas Athawale from Maharashtra; Tiruchi Siva, Kanimozhi N V N Somu, and M Thambidurai from Tamil Nadu; and Amarendra Dhari Singh and Upendra Kushwaha from Bihar. Other states witnessing retirements include West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh.
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Rajya Sabha elections are indirect, with Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) electing the upper house representatives through proportional representation via single transferable vote. MLAs rank candidates in order of preference, and candidates must secure a minimum quota of votes to win. The election employs an open ballot system, requiring MLAs to show marked ballots to party-authorised representatives, ensuring transparency and minimising cross-voting.
The ECI has mandated the use of integrated violet sketch pens for marking preferences, supplied by the Returning Officer, to maintain uniformity and prevent tampering. Observers will be appointed in each state to monitor compliance with electoral guidelines.
This round of Rajya Sabha elections is expected to reflect the current strength of political parties in state assemblies and could influence the upper house’s composition for the next six years, impacting legislative priorities and government stability at the Centre.
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