Rajya Sabha Polls On March 16 For 37 Seats Across 10 States, Says EC

Last Updated:February 18, 2026, 11:48 IST

The Commission has intensified its EVM and VVPAT awareness drive in poll-bound states and Union Territories, including Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday released the schedule for biennial elections to 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states, as the terms of the sitting members are set to end in April 2026.

According to an official press note, members from Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana will complete their tenure in April, necessitating fresh elections to fill the vacancies.

The election process will begin with the issuance of notification on February 26. The last date for filing nominations is March 5, followed by scrutiny on March 6. Candidates may withdraw their nominations until March 9. Polling will be held on March 16, and counting of votes will take place the same day at 5 pm. The entire process is scheduled to conclude by March 20.

The Commission has issued specific instructions regarding the voting procedure. “The Commission has directed that only integrated violet colour sketch pen(s) of pre-fixed specification, provided by the Returning Officer, shall be used for the purpose of marking preference(s) on the ballot paper. No other pen shall be used for marking preferences in the elections," the press note stated.

The ECI also directed officials to appoint observers and ensure all necessary arrangements are in place for a smooth and transparent conduct of the polls.

Separately, the Commission has intensified its EVM and VVPAT awareness drive in poll-bound states and Union Territories, including Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. As per the ECI, over 1.20 lakh electors have participated in EVM demonstration camps, with more than 1.16 lakh casting mock votes during the exercise. Over 29,000 polling station locations had been covered by mobile demonstration vans as of February 10.

The awareness campaign is being carried out through EVM Demonstration Centres and Mobile Demonstration Vans in a structured and time-bound manner to familiarise voters with the functioning of the machines.

News india Rajya Sabha Polls On March 16 For 37 Seats Across 10 States, Says EC

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