Full Breakdown
Rajya Sabha Elections Set for October 16 2026
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Scheduled Election Details
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a timetable for biennial elections to 11 Rajya Sabha seats — 10 from Uttar Pradesh, one from Uttarakhand — and a by-election for a West Bengal seat. The notification will be released on September 29. Candidates must file nominations by October 6, with scrutiny on October 7 and the final withdrawal deadline on October 9. Polling is slated for October 16, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and vote counting will begin at 5 p.m. the same day. The entire process must be completed by October 19.
Background and Context
The Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand seats become vacant when the current members’ six-year terms expire on November 25. In West Bengal, the vacancy arose after Trinamool Congress MP Rukmini Mallik resigned on July 16 2026; her term was due to run until April 2 2032. The elections occur ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls expected next year, making the Upper House composition a strategic focus for state-level parties.
Outgoing Members
- Uttar Pradesh (10 seats) – Eight seats are held by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): Arun Singh, Geeta Shakya, Brij Lal, B.L. Verma, Seema Dwivedi, Hardeep Singh Puri, Neeraj Shekhar, and Dinesh Sharma (who resigned on September 11 after appointment as Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands). The remaining two seats are held by Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party leader Ramji Gautam.
- Uttarakhand (1 seat) – The retiring member is BJP MP Naresh Bansal.
- West Bengal (by-election) – The seat was vacated by Rukmini Mallik (also known as actress Koel Mallick).
Data and Statistics
- Seats up for election: 11 (10 UP + 1 Uttarakhand) plus 1 West Bengal by-election.
- Party distribution of outgoing seats: BJP 8, SP 1, BSP 1 (Uttar Pradesh); BJP 1 (Uttarakhand).
- Assembly strength required: In Uttar Pradesh, a candidate needs at least 37 first-preference votes from the 397-member effective assembly to secure a seat.
- Projected outcomes: BJP-led alliance is expected to win eight of the ten Uttar Pradesh seats; SP could secure the remaining two. The BSP lacks sufficient MLAs to retain its seat. The BJP is positioned to retain the Uttarakhand seat.
Official Statements & Responses
The ECI’s schedule emphasizes procedural integrity: notifications will be issued on September 29; integrated violet-colour sketch pens of pre-fixed specifications will be used to mark ballot preferences; and the Model Code of Conduct takes effect immediately for the relevant legislative-council constituencies. Counting will occur on the same day as polling, at 5 p.m., and the entire election process must conclude by October 19.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the total number of Rajya Sabha seats mentioned. Most outlets report elections for 11 seats (10 UP + 1 Uttarakhand) plus one West Bengal by-election, while a few describe the contest as involving 12 seats. The discrepancy stems from varying interpretations of whether the West Bengal by-election is counted within the total. No source provides a definitive reconciliation.
What’s Next
- September 29: Official election notification.
- October 6: Last day for nomination filings.
- October 7: Scrutiny of nominations.
- October 9: Final withdrawal deadline.
- October 16: Polling and counting.
- October 19: Completion of the electoral process.
