Rajya Sabha Elections 2026: Kharge, Deve Gowda Among Leaders Retiring as EC Announces Poll Dates

The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for the Rajya Sabha Elections 2026, setting the voting date for June 18. The elections will cover a total of 26 seats across 12 states, including both biennial elections and by-elections. Out of these, 24 seats in 10 states will go to regular biennial polls, while 2 seats will be filled through by-elections due to resignations. According to the official notification, the election process will begin with the issuance of the notification on June 1. The nomination process will be followed by scrutiny on June 9, and candidates will be allowed to withdraw their nominations until June 11. Voting will take place on June 18 between 9 AM and 4 PM. The by-elections are being conducted to fill vacant seats from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, which were previously held by Sunetra Ajit Pawar and C.V. Shanmugam respectively. Meanwhile, the biennial elections will determine representatives for 24 Rajya Sabha seats across multiple states where current members are completing their terms. The distribution of seats is spread across several states: four seats each in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Karnataka; three seats each in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan; two seats in Jharkhand; and one seat each in Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram. Several prominent political leaders are set to retire as their Rajya Sabha terms conclude. Among them are Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, and senior leader Digvijay Singh. Their retirement marks a significant reshuffle in the Upper House of Parliament. In addition, Union Ministers George Kurien and Ravneet Singh Bittu are also completing their terms. Reports suggest that the party leadership may consider renominating Ravneet Singh Bittu to the Rajya Sabha, especially in view of upcoming political strategies and regional electoral considerations. Overall, the 2026 Rajya Sabha elections are expected to be politically significant, not only because of the number of seats involved but also due to the retirement of several high-profile leaders. The outcome will play a crucial role in shaping the balance of power in the Upper House of Parliament and influencing future legislative decisions in India.