The Election Commission of India on Thursday issued the formal notification for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, initiating the process to fill 37 vacancies across 10 states, including four seats from Odisha.
As per the schedule announced by the poll body, the nomination process begins today and will continue until March 5. Scrutiny of nomination papers is set for March 6, while March 9 has been fixed as the last date for withdrawal of candidature. Polling for the seats will be held on March 16.
Four Rajya Sabha Seats Falling Vacant in Odisha
In Odisha, four members of the Upper House are set to complete their terms. These include BJP MPs Sujeet Kumar and Mamata Mohanta, and BJD MPs Niranjan Bishi and Munna Khan.
The Rajya Sabha elections in the state assume significance given the current composition of the Odisha Legislative Assembly. Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) elect Rajya Sabha representatives through a proportional representation system using a single transferable vote, making the Assembly’s numerical strength crucial in determining outcomes.
Outcome Largely Predictable, Spotlight on Fourth Seat
Based on the present strength of MLAs in the Assembly, two BJP candidates and one BJD candidate are almost certain to secure seats in the Upper House from Odisha.
However, political focus remains on the fourth seat, where candidate selection and possible strategic moves by parties are being closely monitored. Any change in voting patterns or cross-party support could influence the final result.
With the election process now formally underway, political activity is expected to intensify in the coming days as parties finalise nominees and assess their arithmetic in the Assembly ahead of the March 16 polling.
