Biennial elections for 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states commence today, March 16, with vote counting scheduled for 5 p.m. the same day. While 26 candidates secure unopposed victories, polling unfolds for the remaining 11 seats in Bihar, Odisha, and Haryana amid intense NDA-Opposition rivalries.
26 Candidates Elected Unopposed
The terms of 37 incumbents from Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana end this April, paving the way for fresh elections. Among unopposed winners, the BJP claims seven seats, Congress five, Trinamool Congress four, DMK three, and one each for Shiv Sena, RPI(A), NCP, NCP(SP), AIADMK, PMK, and UPPL.
Prominent figures include NCP founder Sharad Pawar, senior Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi, DMK’s Tiruchi Siva, Shiv Sena’s Vinod Tawade, RPI(A) president Ramdas Athawale, and AIADMK’s M. Thambidurai.
Focus on 11 Contested Seats
Voting targets five seats in Bihar, four in Odisha, and two in Haryana. These battlegrounds pit the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance against the Opposition bloc in a high-stakes contest.
Nitish Kumar Enters Rajya Sabha Race
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the state’s longest-serving leader over two decades, files his nomination for a Rajya Sabha seat in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other NDA figures. The 75-year-old pledges full support to the incoming cabinet.
“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.
NDA allies Upendra Kushwaha and BJP leader Nitin Nabin also submit nominations for the Upper House.
Parties Secure Legislators Amid Cross-Voting Concerns
Fears of cross-voting and horse-trading prompt major parties, including Congress, to relocate MLAs to resorts and out-of-state sites to maintain unity before polling.
