The Election Commission of India has initiated the preparatory process for the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections, with 37 seats across 10 states scheduled to fall vacant in April. As part of the exercise, the Commission has written to the Chief Electoral Officers of the concerned states, including Odisha, seeking proposals related to election arrangements.
The proposals include the appointment of Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers, identification of polling venues, and details on ballot box requirements. The Commission has asked states to begin groundwork early to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections.
According to official sources, Rajya Sabha elections will be held for seven seats in Maharashtra, six in Tamil Nadu, five each in West Bengal and Bihar, four in Odisha, three in Assam, two each in Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Haryana, and one seat in Himachal Pradesh.
In Odisha, the tenure of four Rajya Sabha members — Munna Khan, Niranjan Bishi, Sujeet Kumar and Mamata Mohanta — will end on April 2. With the process underway, political parties are expected to begin consultations and candidate selection ahead of the Election Commission’s formal announcement of the election schedule.
