Rajya Sabha polls for 12 seats in UP, Uttarakhand and Bengal on 16 October
The Election Commission announced on 22 September 2026 that biennial elections to 10 Rajya Sabha seats in UP and one in Uttarakhand, plus a bypoll in West Bengal, will be held on 16 October.
The Election Commission of India on 22 September 2026 announced elections to 12 Rajya Sabha seats. Voting, if needed, will take place on 16 October 2026, and votes will be counted the same evening.
Seats going to the polls
| State | Seats | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | 10 | Members' terms end on 25 November 2026 |
| Uttarakhand | 1 | Term of Naresh Bansal (BJP) ends on 25 November 2026 |
| West Bengal | 1 (bypoll) | Resignation of Rukmini Mallik (Trinamool Congress) on 16 July; remaining term runs to 2 April 2032 |
Schedule
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification | 29 September |
| Last date for nominations | 6 October |
| Scrutiny | 7 October |
| Last date for withdrawal | 9 October |
| Polling | 16 October, 9 am to 4 pm |
| Counting | 16 October |
| Process to be completed by | 19 October |
Uttar Pradesh: who is retiring
Of the 10 outgoing UP members, eight belong to the BJP, including Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and B L Verma, and one each to the Samajwadi Party (Ram Gopal Yadav) and the BSP (Ramji Gautam). One BJP seat, earlier held by Dinesh Sharma, fell vacant on 11 September after his appointment as a Lieutenant Governor.
Based on current strength in the UP Assembly, reports project that the BJP-led alliance can win eight seats and the Samajwadi Party two. If the number of candidates equals the number of seats, they are declared elected unopposed after the withdrawal deadline and no voting is needed.
How Rajya Sabha elections work
Rajya Sabha members are elected indirectly by the elected MLAs of each state, using the single transferable vote system. Voting is by open ballot for party MLAs, who must show their marked ballot to their party's authorised agent.
What to watch
Party candidate lists are expected before the 6 October nomination deadline. The outcome in UP will shape the strength of parties in the Upper House ahead of the 2027 Assembly election in the state.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Rajya Sabha poll?
16 October 2026, with counting the same day.
Why is there a bypoll in West Bengal?
Trinamool Congress MP Rukmini Mallik resigned on 16 July; the winner will serve until 2 April 2032.
What is the last date for nominations?
6 October 2026.
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