The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday issued the formal notification for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, initiating the process to fill 37 vacancies across 10 states, including four seats from Odisha.
According to the schedule released by the ECI, the nomination process begins on February 26 and will continue until March 5. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on March 6, while March 9 has been set as the last date for withdrawal of candidature. Polling for the vacant seats is scheduled to be held on March 16.
In Odisha, four Rajya Sabha seats are set to fall vacant following the completion of the terms of BJP MPs Sujeet Kumar and Mamata Mohanta, and BJD MPs Niranjan Bishi and Munna Khan.
The Rajya Sabha elections in the state assume political significance as the outcome is determined by the strength of elected MLAs in the Odisha Legislative Assembly.
Based on the present composition of the Assembly, two candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and one from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) are expected to secure seats in the Upper House without difficulty.
However, political attention remains focused on the fourth seat, where candidate selection and potential cross-voting dynamics are being closely monitored. The contest for this seat could influence the broader political narrative in the state.
