ECI announces schedule for polls to 12 Rajya Sabha seats

In a major political update, elections for 11 Rajya Sabha seats—10 from Uttar Pradesh and one from Uttarakhand—will be held on October 16. The development comes as the terms of several prominent members are set to expire in the coming weeks, prompting the Election Commission to initiate the process ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament.

Among those completing their tenure are Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, senior Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, and BJP leaders including Brij Lal and B L Verma. The vacancies are scheduled to arise by late November, making the upcoming elections crucial for reshaping the Upper House’s composition.

The political stakes are particularly high in Uttar Pradesh, where 10 seats are up for grabs. In the previous cycle, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a dominant share of these seats. However, changing political dynamics after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections have made the contest more competitive.