The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday announced biennial elections for 24 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states, with polling scheduled to take place on June 18.
The elections are being conducted
to fill vacancies arising from the retirement of 24 members of the Council of States whose terms are ending in June and July 2026.
According to the poll schedule released by the Commission, notifications for the elections will be issued on June 1, while the last date for filing nominations is June 8. Scrutiny of nomination papers will be held on June 9, and candidates will be allowed to withdraw their nominations till June 11.
Voting will be conducted on June 18 between 9 am and 4 pm, with counting of votes scheduled for 5 pm on the same day. The entire election process is expected to be completed by June 20.
The Commission said only integrated violet-coloured sketch pens of a pre-fixed specification, supplied by the Returning Officer, will be permitted for marking preferences on ballot papers. Use of any other pen will not be allowed.
The ECI also said observers would be deployed for close monitoring of the electoral process to ensure free and fair elections.
The Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant are spread across Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Mizoram.
Among prominent leaders retiring from the Upper House are H. D. Deve Gowda, Mallikarjun Kharge, Digvijaya Singh and Shibu Soren.
Four members each are retiring from Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, and Karnataka will witness elections for four seats. Three seats each are falling vacant in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, while two seats in Jharkhand are due for retirement, including one currently vacant following the death of Shibu Soren on August 4, 2025.
Single seats each from Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram will also go to polls.
