The Election Commission initiated the process for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections by seeking proposals for the appointment of Returning Officers from 10 states, including Odisha.
A total of 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states will fall vacant in April 2026. Maharashtra will see seven seats vacant, Tamil Nadu and Bihar six each, West Bengal five, Assam three, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Haryana two each, Odisha four, and Himachal Pradesh one.
In Odisha, the tenure of four Rajya Sabha MPs will end on April 2, 2026. The members whose terms conclude are Munna Khan, Niranjan Bishi, Mamata Mohanty, and Sujit Kumar.
The Election Commission has already sent letters to the Chief Electoral Officers of these states, requesting proposals for the appointment of Returning Officers to oversee the election process.
With the approaching vacancies, political parties are expected to intensify their strategies to secure representation in the Upper House. The Rajya Sabha elections will play a crucial role in shaping the balance of power among parties at the national level.
The process marks the beginning of preparations for the smooth conduct of elections, ensuring transparency and adherence to constitutional mandates.
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