Political heavyweight are gearing up as Rajya Sabha’s biennial elections for 37 seats commence nominations today. The Election Commission’s February 18 notification outlines the roadmap for replacing retiring members from 10 states, whose terms expire April 2026.
Key dates include March 6 for nomination checks, March 9 for withdrawals, and March 16 for voting (9 AM-4 PM), with counting immediately after. Strict measures like mandatory purple sketch pens from officials aim to safeguard integrity, with observers monitoring proceedings.
The Commission stresses timely compliance to maintain the upper house’s credibility. Affected states include powerhouses like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar, amplifying the elections’ significance.
BJP’s candidate slate boasts diversity: Vinod Tawde’s comeback in Bihar alongside Nitin Naveen and Shivesh Kumar; Assam duo Teresh Gowala and Jogen Mohan; Lakshmi Verma in Chhattisgarh; Sanjay Bhatia in Haryana; Odisha’s Manmohan Samal and Sujit Kumar; Rahul Sinha in West Bengal. Re-nominations for Ramdas Athawale, Maya Iwante, and Ramrao Wadkute round out the list.
Opposition circles stirred when Congress pledged support to Sharad Pawar, revealed by Harshwardhan Sapkal at a joint presser with Supriya Sule, Vijay Wadettiwar, and Satyajit Patil.
This electoral showdown promises intrigue, with cross-party support and veteran returns poised to alter Rajya Sabha’s balance of power for years ahead.