THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
FEBRUARY 18, 2026
The Election Commission of India
has announced the schedule for the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha,
setting March 16, 2026 as the date for polling to fill four vacancies in the
Upper House of Parliament.
According to the notification
issued by the Commission, the election process will formally commence on
February 26 with the issuance of the gazette notification. The last date for
filing nominations has been fixed for March 5, while scrutiny of nomination
papers will take place on March 6. Candidates will have the option to withdraw
their nominations until March 9.
Polling, if required, will be
conducted on March 16 between 9 am and 4 pm, with the counting of votes
scheduled for 5 pm on the same day. The Commission has indicated that the
entire electoral exercise will be completed by March 20.
The election has been necessitated due to the impending retirement of four Rajya Sabha members from Odisha on April 2. The members set to demit office are Niranjan Bishi and Munna Khan of the Biju Janata Dal, along with Sujeet Kumar and Mamata Mohanta of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The announcement has set the stage for political activity in the state, with parties expected to finalise their nominees in the coming days in line with their respective legislative strengths in the Odisha Assembly.
