RS Polls for 37 Seats on March 16
ECI announces schedule as terms of members expire in April 2026
- Biennial Rajya Sabha polls to fill 37 seats
- Voting scheduled for March 16, counting the same day
- Elections to cover members from 10 states
- Process to conclude by March 20, 2026
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 18th Feb: The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha to fill 37 seats from 10 states, as the terms of the sitting members are set to expire in April 2026.
According to the schedule, notifications for the elections will be issued on February 26. The last date for filing nominations is March 5, while scrutiny will take place on March 6. The final date for withdrawal of candidature is March 9.
Polling will be held on March 16 from 9 am to 4 pm, and counting of votes will take place the same day at 5 pm. The entire election process is scheduled to be completed by March 20.
The 37 seats falling vacant belong to members from Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana.
The Commission has directed that only integrated violet-colour sketch pens of prescribed specification, provided by the Returning Officer, will be used for marking preferences on ballot papers.
It also said adequate measures, including the appointment of observers, will be taken to ensure free and fair elections.
