Rajya Sabha Polls Today; Voting Underway
In key battlegrounds in Bihar, Haryana, and Odisha, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is working to counter Opposition gains
New Delhi: The biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha to fill 37 seats across 10 states are scheduled on Monday (March 16), with the counting of votes set for the same day at 5 pm.
The terms of 37 members elected from Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana will conclude in April, vacating the seats for new members to be elected.
Out of these, 26 candidates have already secured victory unopposed. Voting will now take place for the remaining 11 seats, including five from Bihar, four from Odisha, and two from Haryana.
In key battlegrounds in Bihar, Haryana, and Odisha, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is working to counter Opposition gains.
So far, 26 candidates have been elected unopposed, with the BJP securing seven seats, Congress five, the Trinamool Congress four, the DMK three, and Shiv Sena, RPI(A), NCP, NCP(SP), AIADMK, PMK, and UPPL one each.
Notable names among the winners include Sharad Pawar, Abhishek Singhvi, Tiruchi Siva, and Vinod Tawade.
As preparations are underway for the biennial elections, attention has turned to Haryana, Bihar, and Odisha, which have emerged as key arenas of contest between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition bloc for four important seats.
One of the most significant developments in these Rajya Sabha polls is related to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Nitish Kumar, Bihar's longest-serving Chief Minister for over two decades, announced that he would be heading to the Rajya Sabha and filed his nomination in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, among other leaders.
The 75-year-old also said that the new Cabinet would have his full support.
“I seek to become a member of the Rajya Sabha in the elections being held this time. I want to assure you with complete honesty that my relationship with you will continue in the future as well, and my resolve to work together with you to build a developed Bihar will remain steadfast. The new government that will be formed will have my full cooperation and guidance,” Nitish Kumar posted on X.
Apart from Nitish Kumar, other NDA candidates, including Upendra Kushwaha and BJP chief Nitin Nabin, have also filed their nominations for the Upper House.
Amid apprehensions of possible cross-voting and allegations of horse-trading, several political parties, particularly the Congress, have moved their legislators to resorts and locations outside their home states in a bid to ensure unity within their ranks ahead of the polling.
Among those elected without contest are Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar, Republican Party of India (Athawale) president Ramdas Athawale, and senior AIADMK leader M Thambidurai.
The counting of votes will be conducted on the same day as polling at 5 pm.
Live Updates
- 16 March 2026 2:24 PM IST
Voting halted for 30 minutes, BJD objects to issuance of 2nd ballot paper to BJP MLA
Polling for the four Rajya Sabha seats in Odisha was halted for about half an hour on Monday over a dispute on the issuance of a second ballot paper to a BJP MLA. The opposition BJD agent objected to the issuance of a second ballot paper to BJP MLA Upasana Mohapatra. She sought another ballot paper for overwriting on the one, issued in her name earlier. Later, Mohapatra was allowed to cast her vote.
However, BJD president Naveen Patnaik strongly objected to the issuance of a second ballot paper to the BJP MLA.
- 16 March 2026 12:25 PM IST
Polling for 5 RS seats in Bihar begins
Voting began for five Rajya Sabha seats in Bihar on Monday, with five nominees from the ruling NDA and one from the opposition RJD contesting the biennial polls, an official said. The polling commenced at 9 am and will continue till 5 pm in the Bihar Assembly complex, where MLAs have started casting their ballots, he said.
Counting will begin after 5 pm, and the results are expected to be declared the same day.
Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar and BJP national president Nitin Nabin are among the NDA candidates.
- 16 March 2026 12:25 PM IST
Voting begins for 4 RS seats in Odisha, amid cross-voting fear
Polling for four Rajya Sabha seats in Odisha began on Monday, with the opposition BJD accusing the ruling BJP of indulging in "horse trading".The voting commenced at 9 am and will continue till 4 pm in the assembly complex, where MLAs have started casting their ballots, an official said.
The voting for the RS polls will be held in the state after a gap of 12 years, as this time, five candidates are in the fray for the four seats which will fall vacant on April 2.
- 16 March 2026 12:18 PM IST
RS polls in Haryana: Voting underway for two Rajya Sabha seats
Voting was underway on Monday for the two Rajya Sabha seats in Haryana with a candidate each from the BJP, Congress and an Independent in the fray.BJP's Sanjay Bhatia, Karamvir Singh Boudh of the Congress and Independent candidate Satish Nandal are in the fray for the two seats. The BJP is backing Nandal for the second seat.
