The Election Commission of India has announced that biennial elections for 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states will take place on March 16, 2026. These seats are set to fall vacant on April 2 and April 9, and the official notifications for the polls will be released on February 26.
The states involved in this round of Rajya Sabha elections include Maharashtra (7 seats), Odisha (4 seats), Telangana (2 seats), Tamil Nadu (6 seats), Chhattisgarh (2 seats), West Bengal (5 seats), Assam (3 seats), Haryana (2 seats), Himachal Pradesh (1 seat), and Bihar (5 seats).
Polling will be conducted from 9 am to 4 pm on March 16, and the vote counting will begin at 5 pm on the same day.
Among the notable MPs whose terms are ending are Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP, Maharashtra), Abhishek Singhvi (Congress, Rajasthan), Saket Gokhale (TMC, West Bengal), Ramdas Athawale (RPI-A, Maharashtra), M Thambidurai (AIADMK, Tamil Nadu), and Tiruchi Siva (DMK, Tamil Nadu). Their departure marks the end of significant political careers in the upper house, and the upcoming elections are expected to bring fresh faces into the Rajya Sabha.
These elections are part of the regular biennial process of filling Rajya Sabha vacancies as members complete their six-year terms. The results will determine the composition of the upper house and may have a key impact on legislative decision-making in Parliament over the next term.
