India’s political landscape is witnessing an important electoral exercise as voting for the Rajya Sabha elections 2026 has commenced across multiple states. These elections are being held to fill 37 seats in the Upper House of Parliament, with polling taking place in 10 states across the country.

The Rajya Sabha elections 2026 LIVE updates indicate that voting began at 9:00 AM on March 16 and will continue until 4:00 PM, after which the counting of votes will start at 5:00 PM. The elections are being conducted because the terms of several sitting Rajya Sabha members are scheduled to end in April, necessitating the selection of new representatives.

These biennial elections are particularly significant because they will shape the balance of power in the Rajya Sabha, influencing how legislation is debated and passed in the coming years.

37 Rajya Sabha Seats Across 10 States

The Rajya Sabha poll voting today Bihar Odisha Haryana news is part of a broader electoral process covering several states.

Seats going to elections include:

• 7 seats in Maharashtra

• 6 seats in Tamil Nadu

• 5 seats in Bihar

• 5 seats in West Bengal

• 4 seats in Odisha

• 3 seats in Assam

• 2 seats each in Haryana, Telangana and Chhattisgarh

• 1 seat in Himachal Pradesh

However, a significant development in the Rajya Sabha elections 2026 live updates India is that 26 candidates have already been elected unopposed after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations.

This means that only 11 seats are being contested today, with 14 candidates currently in the fray.

The remaining electoral contests are primarily concentrated in Bihar, Odisha and Haryana, where political competition is expected to be intense.

Key Contest in Bihar

Among all the states, Bihar has emerged as one of the most closely watched battlegrounds in the Rajya Sabha elections 2026.

Voting is taking place for five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar, where six candidates are contesting the elections.

The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has fielded five candidates, while the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has nominated one candidate.

Prominent candidates in the Bihar contest include:

• Nitish Kumar

• Nitin Nabin

• Ram Nath Thakur

• Upendra Kushwaha

• Shivesh Kumar

The opposition RJD has renominated Amarendra Dhari Singh, a businessman-turned-politician, for another term.

Political leaders from both sides have expressed confidence about their chances of winning the seats.

RLM chief Upendra Kushwaha stated that all five NDA candidates would secure victory, while BJP leaders echoed similar sentiments.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav claimed that his party has received support from smaller parties to strengthen its position in the contest.

Opposition Support Dynamics

According to Tejashwi Yadav, the opposition initially faced a shortage of six votes due to the lower number of MLAs in the state assembly.

However, the situation changed when support came from:

• All India Majlis‑e‑Ittehadul Muslimeen

• Bahujan Samaj Party

These developments have made the Bihar contest politically interesting despite the ruling alliance’s numerical advantage.

Voting in Bihar Assembly

Polling for the Rajya Sabha elections 2026 candidates list India began at the Bihar Legislative Assembly complex in Patna, where MLAs arrived early in the morning to cast their votes.

Among the notable moments during the voting process was the arrival of Anant Singh, who came to the assembly from jail to exercise his voting rights.

The participation of legislators from various parties has been closely monitored amid speculation about possible cross-voting.

However, Bihar Minister Shravan Kumar dismissed such concerns and said he did not expect any cross-voting.

Odisha Sees Political Showdown

Another crucial battleground in the Rajya Sabha elections 2026 LIVE updates is Odisha, where elections are being held for four Rajya Sabha seats.

The contest in the state has attracted significant attention because it features a direct political face-off between the BJP and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

Five candidates are contesting for four seats, creating the possibility of a closely fought election.

The BJD has accused the ruling BJP of attempting “horse-trading” to influence votes, an allegation that has added further political drama to the contest.

Former Odisha Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik arrived at the state assembly to cast his vote during the polling process.

Interestingly, Rajya Sabha elections had not taken place in Odisha for the past 12 years, making this election particularly significant for the state’s political landscape.

Haryana Also Witnesses Contest

The third state where voting is being closely watched is Haryana, where elections are being held for two Rajya Sabha seats.

Historically, Haryana has witnessed instances of cross-voting in Rajya Sabha elections, which has increased political tensions this time as well.

The Congress party, which currently holds 37 MLAs in the Haryana Legislative Assembly, appears to have a numerical advantage in the contest for one of the seats.

To secure victory, a candidate requires 31 first-preference votes under the proportional representation system used in Rajya Sabha elections.

Ahead of the voting, Congress MLAs who had been staying in Himachal Pradesh returned to Haryana and assembled at the residence of senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

26 Candidates Already Elected Unopposed

A major highlight of the Rajya Sabha elections 2026 live updates India is that 26 candidates have already been elected unopposed from several states.

Among the prominent leaders who secured unopposed victories are:

• Sharad Pawar

• Ramdas Athawale

• Vinod Tawde

• Abhishek Manu Singhvi

• Babul Supriyo

Several other candidates from various parties across states also secured unopposed victories due to the absence of rival nominations.

How Rajya Sabha Members Are Elected

Unlike Lok Sabha elections where citizens vote directly, Rajya Sabha members are elected indirectly.

The Election Commission of India conducts these elections using a proportional representation system through the single transferable vote (STV) method.

Under this system:

• Only elected Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) vote

• Voters rank candidates in order of preference

• Candidates must secure a specific vote quota to win

This system ensures proportional representation of political parties in the Upper House based on their strength in state assemblies.

Impact on Parliamentary Politics

The Rajya Sabha seats 2026 India election update could significantly influence the political balance in Parliament.

Since the Rajya Sabha plays a critical role in reviewing and approving legislation, the number of seats held by each party directly affects their ability to pass or block bills.

Current projections suggest that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) may increase its strength in the Upper House following these elections.

However, the final outcome will depend on the results of the contested seats and whether any unexpected cross-voting occurs.

Political Significance of the Elections

Political analysts believe the Rajya Sabha elections 2026 LIVE updates will have long-term implications for national politics.

These elections are important because:

• They determine party representation in the Upper House

• They influence the passage of key legislation

• They reflect the strength of political alliances in states

For major political parties, including the BJP, Congress and regional parties, these elections are also seen as a test of political alliances and legislative support across states.

Results Expected Later Today

The Election Commission of India has scheduled the counting of votes to begin at 5:00 PM, soon after polling concludes.

Results are expected to be announced later in the evening, providing clarity on the new composition of the Rajya Sabha.

The outcome will determine which political alliances strengthen their position in the Upper House, making the Rajya Sabha elections 2026 candidates list India a crucial political event to watch.

Conclusion

The Rajya Sabha elections 2026 represent a significant political moment as 37 seats across 10 states are being filled through the biennial electoral process.

While 26 candidates have already secured unopposed victories, the remaining contests in Bihar, Odisha and Haryana are expected to shape the final outcome of the elections.

With prominent leaders like Nitish Kumar and Nitin Nabin in the fray and political parties keeping a close watch for cross-voting, the results of the Rajya Sabha elections 2026 LIVE updates could have a lasting impact on India’s parliamentary politics.