- ECI announces Rajya Sabha elections for 24 seats across ten states.
- By-elections scheduled for Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu Rajya Sabha seats.
- Voting set for June 18, with nominations closing June 8.
- Rajya Sabha elections use ballot papers; observers ensure fair process.
Rajya Sabha Election 2026:The Election Commission of India has announced elections to 24 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states, along with by-elections for one seat each in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Voting is scheduled to take place on June 18. The vacancies arise as the terms of several sitting members are set to expire in June and July, including senior leaders such as Mallikarjun Kharge and former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda from Karnataka.
The states where Rajya Sabha elections will be conducted are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Mizoram.
Senior Leaders Completing Terms
Among the prominent leaders whose Rajya Sabha tenure is ending are Digvijaya Singh from Madhya Pradesh, Kharge from Karnataka, and Deve Gowda.
In Jharkhand, one of the seats has remained vacant since August 2025 following the death of Shibu Soren.
Political parties are expected to begin internal discussions soon regarding candidate selection, particularly in states where multiple seats are at stake and party arithmetic could influence outcomes.
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Maharashtra & Tamil Nadu By-Elections Also Scheduled
The Election Commission also announced by-elections to one Rajya Sabha seat each from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
In Maharashtra, the vacancy was created after Sunetra Ajit Pawar resigned from the Rajya Sabha on May 6 following her victory in the Baramati Assembly by-poll.
The Baramati seat had fallen vacant earlier this year after the death of her husband, Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash.
In Tamil Nadu, the vacancy arose after the resignation of C. Ve. Shanmugam on May 7.
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Polling Schedule & Voting Procedure
According to the schedule released by the Election Commission, notifications for the elections will be issued on June 1.
Candidates can file nominations until June 8, while scrutiny of papers will take place on June 9. The final date for withdrawal of nominations is June 11.
Polling will be conducted on June 18 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and counting of votes will begin at 5 p.m. the same day. The entire election process is expected to conclude by June 20.
Unlike Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, Rajya Sabha voting is conducted using ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines.
MLAs participating in the election will mark their preferences using specially designated violet-coloured sketch pens supplied by the Returning Officer. The Commission clarified that no other writing instruments would be allowed during voting.
Observers will also be deployed to ensure transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
