Bhubaneswar, Feb 26: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday issued a formal notification for the Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha, with polling scheduled to be held on March 16, 2026. The announcement follows a notification by the President of India under Section 12 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, setting the electoral process in motion.
Four Rajya Sabha seats from Odisha will fall vacant on April 2 upon the retirement of sitting members. The outgoing MPs include Niranjan Bishi and Munna Khan of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), and Sujeet Kumar and Mamata Mohanta of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
As per the schedule released by the ECI, the last date for filing nominations is March 5, scrutiny will take place on March 6, and the final date for withdrawal of candidatures is March 9. Polling, if required, will be conducted on March 16 between 9 am and 4 pm. The entire election process is scheduled to conclude by March 20.
Rajya Sabha elections are also being held in nine other states. Political parties in Odisha are expected to announce their nominees shortly.
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