What to Expect in the Upcoming Rajya Sabha Elections: Key Details Revealed!

The nomination process for the Rajya Sabha elections is set to begin, with candidates contesting 37 seats. The Election Commission has outlined key dates, including polling on March 16 and scrutiny of nominations on March 6. Political parties are actively preparing, with the BJP announcing several candidates and the Congress supporting Sharad Pawar. This article provides an overview of the election timeline and party strategies, ensuring you stay informed about this significant political event.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 5, 2026, 09:21 IST

Nominations Open for Rajya Sabha Elections

New Delhi: The nomination process for the upcoming biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha is set to commence on Thursday, with candidates vying for 37 seats in the Upper House.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had previously announced on February 18 the election schedule to fill these vacancies, which are due to the expiration of terms for members from ten states in April 2026.

According to the official timeline, voting will take place on March 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with vote counting scheduled for 5:00 p.m. the same day. The Commission has established a detailed plan to ensure a smooth electoral process amid the upcoming vacancies.

Nomination papers will be scrutinized on March 6, and candidates must withdraw their nominations by March 9.

The Commission has mandated that only specific violet sketch pens, provided by the Returning Officer, may be used for marking preferences on ballots, prohibiting any other writing tools.

To uphold transparency and fairness, election observers will be assigned to monitor the entire process. The Commission has emphasized the importance of adhering to all election guidelines and ensuring that the election is conducted within the designated timeframe to maintain the integrity of the Rajya Sabha elections.

The members whose terms are expiring represent states including Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana.

In the meantime, political parties are ramping up their preparations for the elections. The BJP has announced several candidates, including Nitin Nabin and Shivesh Kumar from Bihar; Terash Gowalla and Jogen Mohan from Assam; Laxmi Verma from Chhattisgarh; Sanjay Bhatia from Haryana; Manmohan Samal and Sujeet Kumar from Odisha; and Rahul Sinha from West Bengal.

After extensive discussions, the Congress party has expressed its support for NCP-SP leader and former Union Minister Sharad Pawar in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

This announcement was made during a press conference led by state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal, alongside NCP-SP working president Supriya Sule, Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar, and party legislator Satej Patil.

Additionally, the BJP has nominated Vinod Tawde, the party's National General Secretary responsible for Bihar, marking his return to parliamentary politics after a hiatus since 2019.

The party has also renominated Ramdas Athawale, the National President of the RPI (Athawale) and a current Union Minister of State. Other nominees include Maya Chintaman Ivnate, a tribal leader and former Mayor of Nagpur, and Ramrao Wadkute, who represents the Dhangar community from Hingoli district.