- The March 16 elections will decide 37 Rajya Sabha positions which will become empty in April. The Election Commission declared the timetable on Wednesday. The official notification will be issued on the 26th of this month. The voting process and the vote counting process will take place on March 16.
- Two specific dates will mark the opening of these positions for new appointments. The territories under discussion operate across ten different states.
State-wise Distribution of Vacant Seats
The 37 seats are distributed as follows:
- Maharashtra – 7 seats
- Tamil Nadu – 6 seats
- West Bengal – 5 seats
- Bihar – 5 seats
- Odisha – 4 seats
- Assam – 3 seats
- Telangana – 2 seats
- Chhattisgarh – 2 seats
- Haryana – 2 seats
- Himachal Pradesh – 1 seat
The month of April will see the end of terms for many important leaders. The group includes Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh and Sharad Pawar and Ramdas Athawale and Tiruchi Siva. The expiration date of Abhishek Singhvi and K. R. Suresh Reddy's terms will occur on April 9.
Impact on Party Strength in the Upper House
- In six states the BJP currently controls the government through its own power or its alliances with other parties. The party's current position will assist in expanding its Rajya Sabha membership.
- The party plans to secure 15 to 18 seats in the upcoming elections. Nine BJP members will resign from their positions during the April retirement period.
- The states of Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and Telangana and West Bengal currently operate under opposition party control. The results in these states will influence seat distribution.
The Left Parties stand to lose political power in West Bengal
- The Trinamool Congress possesses sufficient electoral power to secure victory in four out of five electoral districts in West Bengal. The remaining seat may go to the BJP.
- The Left parties will lose their Rajya Sabha presence from West Bengal if this situation occurs. The Left alliance currently has no Lok Sabha members from the state. The organization also lacks members in the state Assembly.
Competition for Congress Tickets in Telangana
- The announcement of elections has triggered competition among Congress leaders in Telangana. The state will conduct elections to fill two Rajya Sabha seats. The terms of Abhishek Singhvi (Congress) and K.R. Suresh Reddy (BJP) are ending.
- The Congress party will win both available seats during this election. There is speculation that Abhishek Singhvi may receive another opportunity. Party sources indicate that his experience in Delhi remains important.
- Many Congress leaders are seeking nomination for the second seat. Aspirants include leaders who missed earlier Assembly and Lok Sabha tickets. The group consists of supporters who helped the party win elections during the last voting period.
- Vennarender Reddy, advisor to the Chief Minister, is being discussed as a possible candidate. He has led party operations during recent elections for local bodies and by-elections. Other senior leaders, including Justice Sudarshan Reddy and former MPs, have also begun efforts to secure nomination.
- A high-level meeting with state leaders is scheduled in Delhi. Several hopeful candidates are expected to attend. The deadline for filing nominations is the 5th of next month. Discussions will likely continue until then.
- Party leaders indicate that the final decision may depend on recommendations from Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, PCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud, and AICC state in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan. Senior leaders state that preference may be given to those who have actively worked for the party.
