Finance
On Wednesday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a notification for Odisha’s Rajya Sabha elections, which are set for March 16, 2026. The statement follows the President of India’s notification under Section 12 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Four Rajya Sabha seats in Odisha are likely to become vacant on April 2 as sitting members retire. Niranjan Bishi and Munna Khan of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), as well as Sujeet Kumar and Mamata Mohanta of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), are retiring.
Odisha, like other states, will hold indirect elections, with elected members of the State Legislative Assembly conducting the proceedings. The ECI has set the following schedule: final deadline for filing nominations – March 5; scrutiny of nominations – March 6; last date for withdrawal of candidatures – March 9; polling, if necessary, – March 16; and completion of election – March 20. Polling will take place between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., if needed.
In addition to Odisha, Rajya Sabha elections are taking place in nine additional states: Maharashtra (7 seats), Tamil Nadu (6), West Bengal (5), Bihar (5), Assam (3), Chhattisgarh (2), Haryana (2), Telangana (2), and Himachal Pradesh (1).
The ECI’s announcement signals the official start of the electoral process, and Odisha parties are likely to name their candidates in the coming days.
