The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially announced the schedule for the biennial elections to fill 24 seats in the Rajya Sabha across 10 different states. These vacancies are set to arise as the current members are scheduled to retire in June and July of 2026. The commission has finalized the dates for the entire electoral process, ensuring a smooth transition for the upper house of Parliament, while according to the official notification, the polling for these 24 seats will take place on June 18, 2026, which falls on a Thursday.
Detailed Election Schedule
The Election Commission has laid out a comprehensive timeline for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. The process will begin with the issuance of the notification, followed by the nomination phase. The last date for filing nominations has been set for June 8, 2026, a Monday. Following this, the scrutiny of the nomination papers will be conducted on June 9, 2026, Tuesday. Candidates who wish to withdraw their candidature must do so by the deadline of June 11, 2026, Thursday.
The actual voting process is scheduled for June 18, 2026. The polling stations will be open from 9 AM in the morning until 4 PM in the evening. Immediately after the conclusion of the polls, the counting of votes will commence at 5 PM on the same day, June 18, 2026. The entire election process is mandated to be completed by June 20, 2026, Saturday.
State-wise Vacancies and Retiring Members
The 24 seats are spread across 10 states, with varying numbers of members retiring from each. In Andhra Pradesh, four members are set to retire on June 21, 2026. These members include Ayodhya Rami Reddy Alla, Nathwani Parimal, Pilli Subhashchandra Bose, and Sana Satish Babu, while similarly, in Gujarat, four seats will become vacant on June 21, 2026, as Rambhai Harjibhai Mokariya, Amin Narhari Hirabhai, Gohil Shaktisinhji Harichandrasinhji, and Ramila Becharbhai Bara complete their terms.
In Jharkhand, two seats are up for election, while deepak Prakash is retiring on June 21, 2026, while the second seat has been vacant since August 4, 2025, following the tenure of Shibu Soren, which also officially ends on June 21, 2026. Madhya Pradesh will see three vacancies on June 21, 2026, with the retirement of George Kurian, Digvijaya Singh, and Sumer Singh Solanki. Rajasthan also has three seats becoming vacant on the same date, currently held by Neeraj Dangi, Rajendra Gehlot, and Ravneet Singh.
Other states with single vacancies retiring on June 21, 2026, include Manipur, represented by Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, and Meghalaya, represented by Wanweiroy Kharlukhi. In Arunachal Pradesh, Nabam Rebia is scheduled to retire on June 23, 2026. D, while devegowda, and Mallikarjun Kharge. Finally, in Mizoram, K. Vanlalvena will complete his term on July 19, 2026.
By-elections in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu
In addition to the biennial elections, the Election Commission has also announced by-elections for two Rajya Sabha seats in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, while these by-elections will also be held on June 18, 2026. The schedule for these by-elections starts with the notification on June 2, 2026. The last date for nominations is June 9, 2026, with scrutiny on June 10, 2026. The last date for withdrawal of names is June 12, 2026. The voting and counting will follow the same timing as the biennial elections on June 18, 2026.