The Election Commission of India has announced biennial Rajya Sabha elections for 37 seats. Polling will take place on March 16, 2026. These elections follow the retirement of several prominent members in April 2026. Therefore, political activity has intensified across ten states.
Election Timeline and Process
The Commission will issue the official notification on February 26. Candidates can file nominations until March 5. Authorities will scrutinise nomination papers on March 6.
After scrutiny, candidates may withdraw their names until March 9. Polling will occur between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM on March 16. Subsequently, officials will begin counting votes at 5:00 PM.
The Commission expects to complete the entire process by March 20.
Maharashtra’s High-Profile Retirements
Maharashtra will witness the retirement of seven members. These include Dr Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, Fauzia Tahseen Ahmed, Priyanka Chaturvedi, and Sharadchandra Govindrao Pawar. Additionally, Dhairyashil Mohan Patil, Rajani Ashokrao Patil, and Ramdas Bandu Athawale will complete their terms.
Given Maharashtra’s political weight, these vacancies could significantly influence the Upper House balance.
Tamil Nadu and West Bengal in Focus
Tamil Nadu will see N R Elango, P Selvarasu, M Thambidurai, and Tiruchi Siva retire. Moreover, Dr Kanimozhi NVN Somu and G K Vasan will also complete their terms.
West Bengal’s outgoing members include Saket Gokhale, Ritabrata Banerjee, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, and Subrata Bakshi. Additionally, Mausam Noor’s earlier vacancy adds to the state’s electoral importance.
Consequently, these states may witness intense political manoeuvring.
Odisha and Bihar See Major Changes
Odisha will bid farewell to Mamata Mohanta, Muzibulla Khan, Sujeet Kumar, and Niranjan Bishi. Meanwhile, Bihar will see Amarendra Dhari Singh, Prem Chand Gupta, Ramnath Thakur, Upendra Kushwaha, and Haribansh Narayan Singh retire.
These departures could reshape regional representation in Parliament.
Assam, Telangana, Haryana and Others
Assam’s outgoing members include Rameswar Teli, Bhubaneswar Kalita, and Ajit Kumar Bhuyan. Telangana will see Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi and K R Suresh Reddy step down.
Similarly, Haryana will witness the retirement of Kiran Choudhry and Ram Chander Jangra. Chhattisgarh will see Kavi Tejpal Singh Tulsi and Phulo Devi Netam complete their terms. In Himachal Pradesh, Indu Bala Goswami will finish her tenure.
Therefore, these transitions may alter the numerical strength of parties in the Rajya Sabha.
Voting Rules and Oversight Measures
The Election Commission has enforced strict voting guidelines. Legislators must mark preferences using integrated violet-coloured sketch pens. Returning Officers will provide these pens to prevent discrepancies.
Furthermore, the Commission will deploy specialised observers across participating states. These observers will ensure transparency and fairness during the process.
Why These Elections Matter
The Rajya Sabha plays a decisive role in shaping legislation. Therefore, changes in its composition may impact upcoming policy debates.
Moreover, state assembly arithmetic will determine the winners. Consequently, alliances and party strategies will dominate political calculations.
Given the concentration of seats in states like Maharashtra and West Bengal, these polls carry high stakes. Ultimately, the March 16 elections will redefine the Upper House’s political balance for the coming years.
