Election Commission Announces Rajya Sabha Polls for 26 Seats in 12 States
Rajya Sabha elections announced across 12 states for 26 seats.
The Election Commission has confirmed biennial elections for 26 Rajya Sabha seats across 12 states, setting the stage for a significant reshuffle in the composition of the Upper House. The polls, along with by-elections for two additional vacancies in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, are scheduled to be held on June 18. Several sitting members, including former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, and Union Ministers Ravneet Singh Bittu and George Kurian, are nearing the end of their terms.
The upcoming elections will see voting across major states such as Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand, along with smaller northeastern states including Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Karnataka will each elect four members, while Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan will elect three each, and Jharkhand will elect two. The distribution of seats is expected to influence the balance of power in the Upper House significantly.
At present, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds 18 of the 26 seats going to polls, while the Congress holds four, the YSR Congress Party has three, and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) holds one. However, projections suggest the NDA may drop to 17 seats after the elections, while the Congress could increase its tally to five. The JMM is expected to secure two seats, reflecting shifting alliances and regional political dynamics.
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Tamil Nadu’s emerging political formation, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, is also projected to secure one Rajya Sabha seat through the by-elections, marking a notable entry into national politics. Similarly, a seat is expected to go to the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). These by-election seats will have shorter terms of two years, unlike regular six-year terms.
In Karnataka, the Congress is expected to win three of the four seats, while the BJP is likely to secure one. In Gujarat, the BJP is projected to sweep all four seats, which would leave the Congress without representation from the state in the Rajya Sabha for the first time. In Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the BJP is expected to take two seats each, with the Congress likely winning one seat per state, reflecting its limited but stable presence in these regions.
In Jharkhand, the JMM–Congress alliance is expected to secure both available seats, although internal negotiations are ongoing regarding seat-sharing arrangements. Political discussions are also underway regarding key nominations, including potential entries of senior leaders such as Mallikarjun Kharge from Karnataka and speculation around Kamal Nath’s prospects from Madhya Pradesh. Meanwhile, strategic considerations within the BJP, including placements for Union ministers, are expected to influence candidate selection across multiple states, making this round of Rajya Sabha elections a crucial test of political arithmetic ahead of upcoming state and national contests.
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