Elections for the Council of States and State Legislative Councils, 2026
Why in News?
The Elections for the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and State Legislative Councils (Vidhan Parishad), 2026 are in the news because the Election Commission of India (ECI) officially opened the filing of nominations on June 1, 2026, for a mix of biennial and bye-elections.
Key Election Schedule
The formal gazette notifications have been issued, setting off the active phase of the election cycle across multiple states to fill impending upper house vacancies:
- Commencement of Nominations: June 1, 2026, starting at 11:00 AM.
- Last Date for Submitting Nominations: June 8, 2026, up to 3:00 PM.
- Scrutiny of Nominations: June 9, 2026, by the respective Returning Officers.
- Last Date for Withdrawal: June 11, 2026.
- Date of Polling: June 18, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Counting of Votes: June 18, 2026, starting at 5:00 PM, immediately after the conclusion of polling.
Breakdown of Council of States (Rajya Sabha) Seats
A total of 27 Rajya Sabha seats are being contested under this specific phase of notifications:
- Biennial Vacancies: 24 seats across 10 states are opening up due to the natural expiration of members' terms in June and July 2026.
- State-wise Biennial Seats: The vacancies span Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Mizoram.
- Bye-Elections: 3 critical bye-election seats are being filled concurrently—one seat each for the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha.
Breakdown of State Legislative Councils (Vidhan Parishad)
The elections also address upper houses at the state legislature level, focusing on vacancies to be filled by Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs):
- Bihar Legislative Council: Features 9 biennial election seats alongside 1 separate bye-election seat.
- Karnataka Legislative Council: Features 7 biennial election seats up for grab.
Constitutional and Voting Mechanisms
- Indirect Election System: Neither of these elections involves direct public voting. Representatives to the Council of States and State Legislative Councils are chosen indirectly by already elected MLAs via a system of proportional representation using a single transferable vote.
- Significance for Coalitions: These specific June cycles are mathematically vital for major political alliances (like the NDA and INDIA blocs) to adjust or defend their seat balances within the Upper House of Parliament.
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