ECI issues notification for Rajya Sabha elections 2026 in Odisha. Four seats fall vacant; polling scheduled for March 16
OdishaPlus Bureau
On Wednesday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) released a notification regarding the Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha, which are scheduled for March 16, 2026. This announcement follows a notification issued by the President of India in accordance with Section 12 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Four Rajya Sabha seats from Odisha will become vacant on April 2 due to the retirement of current members. The members retiring include Niranjan Bishi and Munna Khan from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), as well as Sujeet Kumar and Mamata Mohanta from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The elections in Odisha, similar to those in other states, will be conducted indirectly by the elected representatives of the State Legislative Assembly. The ECI has provided the following schedule: the final date for filing nominations is March 5; scrutiny of nominations will take place on March 6; the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is March 9; polling, if necessary, will occur on March 16; and the election process will be completed by March 20. Polling, where applicable, will be conducted from 9 am to 4 pm.
Besides Odisha, Rajya Sabha elections are also taking place in nine additional states, which include Maharashtra (7 seats), Tamil Nadu (6), West Bengal (5), Bihar (5), Assam (3), Chhattisgarh (2), Haryana (2), Telangana (2), and Himachal Pradesh (1).
The notification from the ECI signifies the official commencement of the electoral process, and it is anticipated that political parties in Odisha will announce their candidates in the forthcoming days.