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Rajya Sabha Polls Set for March 16: 37 Seats Across 10 States Up for Grabs

The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for biennial elections to fill 37 Rajya Sabha seats from ten states. The polling will be held on March 16, with the counting of votes taking place on the same evening. The terms of the current members, including several prominent politicians, are set to conclude in April 2026. The Commission has issued a detailed timetable and strict guidelines, including the use of specific pens for ballots, to ensure a transparent process.

Key Points: Rajya Sabha Biennial Elections 2024 Schedule Announced by ECI

  • Polling on March 16, 2024
  • 37 seats from 10 states vacant
  • Notification on February 26
  • Counting on same day as voting
2 min read

ECI announces schedule for Rajya Sabha biennial elections to fill 37 seats

ECI announces Rajya Sabha election schedule for 37 seats from 10 states. Voting on March 16, results same day. Key members retiring.

"The Commission stressed the need for strict compliance with all election-related guidelines - Election Commission of India"

New Delhi, Feb 18

The Election Commission of India on Wednesday declared the schedule for the biennial elections to the Council of States, Rajya Sabha, to fill 37 seats falling vacant from 10 states.

According to the Commission, polling will be conducted on March 16 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., and the counting of votes will take place the same day at 5:00 p.m.

The terms of 37 members of the Council of States, elected from 10 states, are set to conclude in April 2026.

In view of the impending vacancies, the Commission has laid out a detailed timetable for the electoral process.

The notification for the elections will be issued on February 26. The last date for filing nominations has been fixed as March 5, while scrutiny of nomination papers will be undertaken on March 6.

Candidates will have the option to withdraw their nominations until March 9.

The Commission has specified that only integrated violet sketch pens of pre-determined specifications, supplied by the Returning Officer, will be allowed for marking preferences on ballot papers.

It clarified that no other writing instrument will be permitted for the purpose.

To ensure that the elections are conducted in a transparent and impartial manner, observers will be deployed to oversee the entire process.

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

Among the prominent retiring members are Upendra Kushwaha, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Tiruchi Siva, Saket Gokhale, Ramdas Athawale, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Sharadchandra Govindrao Pawar, Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, Mamata Mohanta, Rameswar Teli, Indu Bala Goswami, Kavi Tejpal Singh Tulsi, N.R. Elango, Amarendra Dhari Singh and Kiran Choudhry.

The Commission stressed the need for strict compliance with all election-related guidelines and emphasised that the entire process would be completed within the prescribed timeline to safeguard the integrity of the Rajya Sabha elections.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Rajya Sabha elections often feel like a formality where parties just send their chosen people. Would be great if there was more public involvement or debate about the candidates, not just internal party calculations.
A
Arjun K
Important to fill these seats smoothly. The Upper House plays a crucial role in reviewing legislation. Hope the elected members focus on substantive issues like economy and education, not just politics.
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Sarah B
Interesting to see the detailed process. The focus on a specific violet sketch pen seems very particular! It shows the level of detail needed to prevent any malpractices. The observer system is also reassuring.
V
Vikram M
With members from so many key states retiring, the political equations in the Rajya Sabha might see a slight shift. Will be watching the nominations closely, especially from states like Maharashtra and West Bengal.
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Meera T
While the process seems robust, I respectfully hope the ECI ensures that these elections are about merit and capability, not just rewarding loyal party workers. We need thinkers and doers in the Council of States.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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