The electoral exercise will cover 37 seats across 10 states
KRC TIMES Assam Bureau
GUWAHATI : The Election Commission of India on Wednesday, February 18, announced the schedule for the upcoming biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha, with polling in Assam slated for March 16.
The electoral exercise will cover 37 seats across 10 states that are set to fall vacant in April 2026 as sitting members complete their six-year terms. Apart from Assam, elections will be held in Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana.
Three Seats Up for Election in Assam
In Assam, three seats in the Upper House are due for renewal. The terms of Rameswar Teli, Bhubaneswar Kalita and Ajit Kumar Bhuyan are scheduled to end in April, necessitating the biennial poll.
Voting in Assam will be conducted on March 16 between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. Counting of votes will begin at 5:00 pm the same day. The Commission has indicated that the entire election process will be completed by March 20.
Key Dates Announced
According to the official notification, the timeline for the Assam election is as follows:
” Issue of Notification: February 26
” Last Date for Filing Nominations: March 5
” Scrutiny of Nominations: March 6
” Last Date for Withdrawal: March 9
” Date of Poll: March 16 (9:00 am – 4:00 pm)
” Counting of Votes: March 16 (5:00 pm onwards)
” Completion of Election Process: March 20
Indirect Election Through MLAs
Rajya Sabha elections are conducted through an indirect system. Elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) cast their votes under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. The strength of political parties in the respective state assemblies plays a decisive role in determining the outcome.
Strict Voting Protocol in Place
In its press note, the Commission reiterated strict adherence to voting procedures. Only integrated violet colour sketch pens of pre-fixed specifications, supplied by the Returning Officer, will be permitted for marking preferences on ballot papers. The use of any other pen has been expressly prohibited to ensure uniformity and prevent invalidation of votes.
The Commission has also directed the appointment of observers and the implementation of necessary measures to guarantee a free and fair electoral process.
With 37 seats across politically significant states going to polls, the biennial elections are expected to have implications for the composition and numerical balance in the Upper House. In Assam, party positions within the Legislative Assembly will determine how the three seats are distributed when voting takes place next month.
