Election Commission of India announces schedule: Polling for two Chhattisgarh Rajya Sabha seats on 16 March
Raipur
Polling for two Rajya Sabha seats from Chhattisgarh will be held on 16 March 2026. The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday announced the schedule for biennial elections to 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states, including Chhattisgarh. The two seats in the state are currently held by the Indian National Congress.
The newly elected members will assume office on 3 April 2026.
Terms of incumbent MPs ending
The vacancies arise as the six-year terms of Members of Parliament KTS Tulsi and Phulo Devi Netam end on 2 April 2026.
- KTS Tulsi is a senior Supreme Court advocate.
- Phulo Devi Netam is a prominent tribal leader from the Bastar region and former president of the Chhattisgarh Mahila Congress.
Election Schedule
According to the ECI notification:
- Issue of notification: 26 February
- Last date for nominations: 5 March
- Scrutiny of papers: 6 March
- Withdrawal of candidature: 9 March
- Polling: 16 March (9:00 am โ 4:00 pm)
- Counting of votes: 16 March (from 5:00 pm)
The entire election process will be completed by 20 March.
National Context
The biennial Rajya Sabha elections cover 37 seats falling vacant in April across states including Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Bihar.
The ECI has directed that only integrated violet sketch pens provided by the Returning Officer be used for marking preferences on the ballot paper. Observers will also be appointed to ensure a free and fair election.
In Chhattisgarh, the final result will depend on the current numerical strength of political parties in the State Legislative Assembly.
