Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Rajya Sabha Polls Set for October 16 in Three States
India will hold elections for some seats in its Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament.
The voting will happen on October 16.
Ten seats are being contested in Uttar Pradesh, one in Uttarakhand and one vacant seat in Bengal.
The vacant Bengal seat was earlier held by actress Koel Mallick.
The Bharatiya Janata Party holds most of the seats being contested in Uttar Pradesh.
The Samajwadi Party is expected to win two seats based on its strength in the state assembly.
The Bahujan Samaj Party could lose its representation because it has no MLA in Uttar Pradesh.
Separate elections for several state legislative council seats will take place on October 23.
The Election Commission announced Rajya Sabha polls for October 16 in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Bengal.
Voting will cover 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh, one in Uttarakhand and a bypoll in Bengal.
The Uttar Pradesh seats include those held by Hardeep Singh Puri, B.L. Verma and Ram Gopal Yadav.
The Bharatiya Janata Party holds eight of the 10 Uttar Pradesh seats and can elect seven members independently, plus one with allies.
The Election Commission also scheduled legislative council elections in four states for October 23.
- Who
- The Election Commission announced the polls; candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and other parties may contest.
- What
- Elections will be held for 12 Rajya Sabha seats: 10 in Uttar Pradesh, one in Uttarakhand and one Bengal bypoll.
- When
- Rajya Sabha voting is scheduled for October 16; legislative council voting is scheduled for October 23.
- Where
- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Bengal; the council polls will be held in Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- The elections are being held for seats whose terms are due to end or that became vacant, including seats vacated by Dinesh Sharma and Koel Mallick.
- Rajya Sabha voting date
- October 16
- Uttar Pradesh seats
- 10
- Uttarakhand seats
- 1
- Bengal bypolls
- 1
- Bharatiya Janata Party position
- The party holds eight of the 10 poll-bound Uttar Pradesh seats.
- Samajwadi Party position
- The party can elect two members based on its current strength.
- Legislative council voting date
- October 23