Argus News - Biennial Polls to 37 Rajya Sabha Seats On March 16, Odisha to Elect four

Delhi/Bhubaneswar, Feb 18: The Election Commission of India on Wednesday announced biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha to fill 37 seats across 10 states, with polling scheduled for March 16, 2026. Odisha will see contests for four seats, officials said.

According to the Election Commission, the notifications for the Rajya Sabha polls will be issued on February 26, and counting of votes will take place on the same day as polling.

The Election Commission of India has announced biennial elections to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) to fill 37 seats from 10 states.
Date of polls- 16 March 2026. Counting of votes will take place on the same day as polling.#RSElections #ECI pic.twitter.com/7JR6iUPa7B

— Argus News (@ArgusNews_in) February 18, 2026

In Odisha, the tenure of four sitting members-Mamata Mohanta, Muzibulla Khan, Sujeet Kumar, and Niranjan Bishi-will end on April 2, 2026. Their retirement paves the way for new entrants, with political parties expected to intensify lobbying and candidate selection in the weeks ahead.

The Rajya Sabha elections, conducted through votes cast by elected members of the State Legislative Assembly, often mirror the prevailing political balance in the state.

Based on current numbers in the State Assembly, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to secure two seats, while the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is expected to retain one seat. The fourth seat, however, remains undecided, opening a window for political maneuvering.

Also Read: Rajya Sabha Polls: Numbers Game Heats Up For Fourth Seat In Odisha

Each candidate requires 31 first-preference votes to win. With 79 BJP MLAs and the support of three Independents, the party has the strength to comfortably claim two seats. The BJD, with 50 MLAs including two suspended legislators, can secure one seat. After these allocations, both parties will be left with surplus votes-22 for BJP and around 19–20 for BJD-making the fourth seat a battleground of alliances, cross-voting, and tactical choices.

The outcome of Odisha’s Rajya Sabha elections will not only reshape the state’s representation in Parliament but also signal the evolving dynamics between national and regional forces ahead of larger political contests.