For the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections to fill 37 seats across 10 states, the Bharatiya Janata Party has announced its first list of candidates. The list includes many high profile names, the most noteworthy being BJP National President Nitin Nabin. The elections are scheduled for 16 March, and the counting of the votes will be concluded by 20 March.
Rajya Sabha Elections 2026: When are the Rajya Sabha Elections?
Members of Rajya Sabha sit for staggered terms, meaning that every two years, one third of the members are elected. Unlike the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha is a continuing chamber and hence not subject to dissolution. This year, the elections are taking place on 16 March 2026, according to the Election Commission of India. Vote counting will begin at 5pm the same day but is expected to conclude by 20 March 2026.
The Rajya Sabha, also known as the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, consists of representatives from States and the Union Territories. It has 245 members, who are elected for a period of 6 years. Rajya Sabha elections are biennial, which means they take place every alternate year.
Rajya Sabha Elections 2026: Key Election Details
The Rajya Sabha Election 2026 schedule has already been set in motion as the official notification was issued on February 26, marking the formal start of the process. The last dates for the nomination have been announced as candidates can submit their nominations until March 5, and the scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on March 6. The final date for withdrawal of candidature is March 9.
As the terms of sitting members in April 2026 draw to a close, the election process has been initiated to fill 37 vacant seats across 10 states. These states include Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana.
Rajya Sabha Elections 2026: BJP Releases First List of Candidates
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday unveiled its first list of candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha biennial elections, announcing nine nominees across six states. The names were finalised by the party’s Central Election Committee and released through an official statement from its New Delhi headquarters.
The selected candidates are:
- Nitin Nabin (Bihar) – National President, BJP
- Shivesh Kumar (Bihar) – Former MLA, Bihar
- Terash Gowalla (Assam) – MLA, Assam
- Jogen Mohan (Assam) – Cabinet Minister, Assam Government
- Laxmi Verma (Chhattisgarh) – Vice President, BJP Chhatisgarh
- Sanjay Bhatia (Haryana) – Former MP, Karnal Lok Sabha
- Manmohan Samal (Odisha) – President, BJP Odisha
- Sujeet Kumar (Odisha) – Incumbent MP, Rajya Sabha
- Rahul Sinha (West Bengal) – Former President, BJP West Bengal
Rajya Sabha Elections 2026: Other Candidates from TMC, BJD
Earlier, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) announced four candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections: Babul Supriyo, Rajeev Kumar, Menaka Guruswamy, and Koel Mallick. Meanwhile, Naveen Patnaik, president of the Biju Janata Dal, announced Santrupt Misra and Datteswar Hota as the party’s candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha biennial elections.
The Rajya Sabha Elections 2026 will decide who fills 37 seats across 10 states. Major parties like the BJP, TMC, and BJD have announced their candidates, and all eyes are now on how the state assemblies will vote. The results will shape the balance of power in the Upper House for the coming years.
