Rajya Sabha by-poll for Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu to be held on June 18: ECI
New Delhi, May 22
The Election Commission of India on Friday announced the schedule for the by-elections to the Council of States in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu to fill the two vacant seats.
According to a press note issued by the Election Commission, the vacancies were left behind after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) National President and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar from Maharashtra and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader CV Shanmugam from Tamil Nadu filed their resignations from the Rajya Sabha.
Sunetra Pawar had resigned on May 6, 2026, with her term originally set to end on July 4, 2028, while CV Shanmugam resigned on May 7, 2026, with his term originally scheduled to last till June 29, 2028.
As per the schedule announced, the notification for the bye-elections will be issued on June 1 (Monday). The last date for filing nominations has been fixed for June 8, followed by scrutiny of nominations on June 9. Candidates will be able to withdraw their nominations till June 11.
Polling will be held on June 18 (Thursday) from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Counting of votes will also take place on the same day from 5:00 PM onwards. The entire election process is scheduled to be completed by June 22 (Saturday), the Commission said.
The Election Commission further stated that adequate measures will be taken to ensure free and fair conduct of the bye-elections, including the appointment of observers and strict monitoring of the electoral process.
Earlier, Pawar resigned from the Rajya Sabha seat to retain her new role in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, following a landslide victory in the Baramati bypoll where she won by over 2.18 lakh votes.
As per a press release, Sunetra Pawar expressed heartfelt gratitude to the people of Baramati for giving her the opportunity to realise former Deputy Chief Minsiter's vision for the constituency.
"This is not the end, but just the beginning of determination, struggle and a new Baramati," she said.
Shanmugam resigned from his Rajya Sabha seat after getting elected as an MLA from the Mailam constituency in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see the Election Commission moving quickly on this. June 18 polling and results same day – efficient timeline. But doesn't it seem like a waste of taxpayer money to hold bypolls for just two seats? Hope the parties field candidates who genuinely care about national issues, not just personal ambition. 🇮🇳
Sunetra Pawar's victory in Baramati by over 2.18 lakh votes is no joke. That's a massive mandate. But her resignation from Rajya Sabha just months after being elected raises questions about the seriousness of the upper house. Are we treating Rajya Sabha as a stepping stone now? Respectful criticism: this practice needs review.
CV Shanmugam's move makes sense – he got elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly so resigning from RS is logical. But Sunetra Pawar's case is different. She was an RS member since 2024? And now resigning in 2026 to join assembly... feels like political convenience. At least the ECI is handling it transparently with observers and all. Let's hope the new representatives focus on real issues like farmer distress and unemployment.
Just another routine bypoll. Nothing special. But I appreciate that the ECI is sticking to its schedule and ensuring free and fair elections. The appointment of observers is a good move. However, I wish more emphasis was placed on why these vacancies exist – resignation shouldn't be so common in the upper house. Stability matters.
Can someone explain why Sunetra Pawar resigned? She was elected to Rajya Sabha in 2024 with
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