The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced long-awaited Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir, nearly four years after four seats in the Upper House fell vacant.
Polling is scheduled for October 24, 2025, marking a significant political development in the region.
According to the ECI, the four vacancies in J&K will be filled through three separate elections, as mandated by law. This is due to the seats originating from three distinct biennial cycles—two members retired on February 15, 2021, and two others on February 10, 2021.
The Commission cited a legal precedent from the Delhi High Court’s 1994 ruling in AK Walia vs Union of India, which upheld the need for separate elections when vacancies fall under different categories. The court stated, “Once the seats have been divided into the three categories from the inception, the Respondents were right in holding separate elections for each category.”
The tenure of the newly elected members will be subject to the outcome of a pending case before the Supreme Court, the ECI added.
To ensure transparency and fairness, the Commission has mandated the use of violet sketch pens with specific features, supplied by the Returning Officer, for marking preferences on ballot papers. Additionally, observers will be deployed to monitor the election process.
This announcement holds political significance in Jammu and Kashmir, where regional parties have long demanded Rajya Sabha representation.
In a related development, the ECI also announced a by-election for a Rajya Sabha seat from Punjab, which became vacant following the resignation of AAP MP Sanjeev Arora, who joined the state cabinet.
