Election Commission of India announces biennial election schedule across 10 states; nominations open Feb 26, counting on polling day
TFP Bureau, Raipur, February 18, 2026: Voting for two Upper House seats from Chhattisgarh will be held on March 16 following the announcement of the biennial election schedule for Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states. The polls have been necessitated as the terms of sitting members Kavi Tejpal Singh Tulsi and Phulo Devi Netam are set to end on April 9, 2026.
As per the official timetable, the notification for the election will be issued on February 26, initiating the formal process. Candidates may file nominations until March 5, while scrutiny of papers will take place on March 6. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is March 9. Polling will be conducted between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on March 16, with counting scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. the same day. The entire electoral process is slated for completion by March 20.
Nomination papers must be submitted to the Returning Officer at the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly premises between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on working days within the nomination period. Officials stated that all procedures will strictly follow the guidelines laid down for Upper House elections to ensure transparency and fairness.
A total of 90 Members of the Legislative Assembly will participate in the voting process. The current party strength in the House stands at 54 legislators from the Bharatiya Janata Party, 35 from the Indian National Congress, and one from the Gondwana Ganatantra Party. Voting will be conducted through ballot papers, and members must mark their preferences using only the officially supplied purple sketch pen; ballots marked otherwise will be deemed invalid.
Election observers will be appointed to oversee the proceedings, officials said, adding that elaborate arrangements are being made to ensure smooth conduct of polling and counting. Nationwide, a total of 37 Rajya Sabha members are scheduled to be elected in this round of biennial polls, reflecting routine retirements as per the chamber’s rotational system.
