Election Commission Announces Rajya Sabha Polls for 37 Seats Across 10 States on March 16
The Election Commission of India has announced that elections to 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states will be held on March 16, 2026. These seats are set to fall vacant in April as the terms of the current members expire.
The states going to the polls include Odisha, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana. Odisha will specifically witness elections for four seats.
According to the schedule, the notification will be issued on February 26, with the last date for filing nominations on March 5.
Scrutiny will take place on March 6, and the deadline for withdrawal of nominations is March 9. Polling will be conducted from 9 AM to 4 PM on March 16, followed by counting at 5 PM the same day.
The Election Commission has emphasised strict adherence to ballot marking guidelines and will appoint observers to oversee the process.
This announcement comes amid other significant political developments, including Maharashtra’s decision to abolish the 5% Muslim quota, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal’s statement that Jammu & Kashmir may soon regain statehood, and reports of a 40% drop in imports from Russia to India in January 2026, largely due to reduced crude oil shipments.
