Rajya Sabha elections 2026: 10 UP, 1 Uttarakhand seats to vote on October 16
Synopsis
The ECI has scheduled Rajya Sabha elections for 11 seats on October 16 — 10 from UP and one from Uttarakhand — alongside a West Bengal by-election triggered by TMC's fourth Rajya Sabha resignation since losing power in the state. The UP results, involving nine named retiring members, will directly test party floor strength in the Upper House.
Key Takeaways
The Election Commission of India has announced Rajya Sabha elections on October 16 for 11 seats across Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
10 seats are from Uttar Pradesh ; retiring members include Hardeep Singh Puri , Ram Gopal Yadav , Dinesh Sharma , and others.
Uttarakhand holds a by-election following the term completion of Naresh Bansal .
A West Bengal by-election is being held after Rukmini Mallick resigned — reportedly the fourth TMC Rajya Sabha resignation since the party lost power in the state.
Election notification: September 29 ; last date for nominations: October 6 ; polling: October 16, 9 am–4 pm ; counting begins 5 pm same day.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced biennial elections for 11 Rajya Sabha seats across Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, along with a by-election for one seat from West Bengal, all scheduled for October 16. The announcement sets in motion the process to fill scheduled retirements in the Upper House as well as a casual vacancy arising from a resignation.
Seats at Stake and the Election Schedule
Of the 11 seats going to biennial polls, 10 are from Uttar Pradesh and one is from Uttarakhand. The ECI has laid out a precise timeline: the election notification will be issued on September 29, nominations can be filed until October 6, scrutiny will follow on October 7, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is October 9.
Polling will be conducted on October 16 from 9 am to 4 pm, with counting of votes commencing at 5 pm on the same day.
UP Members Retiring, Uttarakhand By-Poll
In Uttar Pradesh, the terms of 10 sitting Rajya Sabha members are expiring. Those vacating their seats include Arun Singh, Geeta alias Chandraprabha, Brij Lal, Ram Gopal Yadav, Ramji Gautam, B.L. Verma, Seema Dwivedi, Dinesh Sharma, and Hardeep Singh Puri.
In Uttarakhand, a by-election has been necessitated by the completion of the term of sitting member Naresh Bansal. With Uttar Pradesh's massive legislative assembly, the outcome in this state will be closely watched as a barometer of the ruling alliance's floor strength.
West Bengal By-Election: A TMC Vacancy
The West Bengal seat is being filled through a by-election following the resignation of Rukmini Mallick from the Rajya Sabha. Notably, Mallick's departure is reportedly the fourth resignation by a Trinamool Congress (TMC) member of parliament since the Mamata Banerjee-led party was ousted from power in West Bengal. The seat will be contested as a casual vacancy in the Upper House.
What the Elections Mean for the Upper House
Together, these contests will reshape a significant slice of Rajya Sabha representation. The biennial retirements in Uttar Pradesh are particularly consequential — the state sends the largest contingent of members to the Upper House, and the numerical strength each party commands there directly influences the passage of legislation. This comes amid continuing political churn in West Bengal, where the TMC's reduced standing has triggered multiple Upper House vacancies in quick succession.
All results are expected to be declared on the evening of October 16, once counting concludes.
Point of View
Which is sending 10 members to contest — a number large enough to shift factional balances in the Upper House. The West Bengal subplot is equally telling: four TMC Rajya Sabha resignations in succession signals either a managed retreat or internal turbulence within a party navigating life in opposition for the first time in over a decade. Whether the ECI's brisk timeline — just 17 days from notification to polling — leaves room for meaningful political negotiation, or simply confirms pre-arranged outcomes given each state's assembly arithmetic, is the real question mainstream coverage tends to gloss over.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the Rajya Sabha elections for UP and Uttarakhand seats?
Polling is scheduled for October 16, from 9 am to 4 pm, with vote counting beginning at 5 pm the same day. The election notification will be issued on September 29.
Which Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh are retiring?
Nine members are confirmed retiring from Uttar Pradesh: Arun Singh, Geeta alias Chandraprabha, Brij Lal, Ram Gopal Yadav, Ramji Gautam, B.L. Verma, Seema Dwivedi, Dinesh Sharma, and Hardeep Singh Puri, accounting for 10 seats going to polls.
Why is a Rajya Sabha by-election being held in West Bengal?
The West Bengal by-election is being held to fill a casual vacancy created by the resignation of Trinamool Congress MP Rukmini Mallick. It is reportedly the fourth such resignation by a TMC Rajya Sabha member since the party lost power in West Bengal.
What is the full schedule for the October 16 Rajya Sabha elections?
The notification will be issued on September 29, nominations must be filed by October 6, scrutiny occurs on October 7, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is October 9. Polling runs from 9 am to 4 pm on October 16, with counting starting at 5 pm.
Why does Uttar Pradesh have so many Rajya Sabha seats up for election?
Rajya Sabha seats are allocated proportionally to state population and legislative assembly size. Uttar Pradesh, as India's most populous state, has the largest Rajya Sabha representation, and biennial retirements regularly produce multiple vacancies from the state simultaneously.
