New Delhi: Polling is underway for elections to 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states, with voting taking place from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and the counting of votes scheduled to begin at 5:00 pm. While a majority of candidates have already secured victory without contest, several crucial seats remain undecided, setting the stage for competitive battles in a few states.
Out of the total seats, 26 candidates from seven states have been elected unopposed. Among the prominent leaders who secured seats without facing a contest are Sharad Pawar, Ramdas Athawale, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Thambi Durai, Vinod Tawde and Babul Supriyo. However, the elections remain competitive in Bihar, Odisha and Haryana, where the remaining 11 seats are being decided through voting.
The vacancies span several states, including seven seats in Maharashtra, six in Tamil Nadu, five each in Bihar and West Bengal, four in Odisha, three in Assam, two each in Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Telangana, and one seat in Himachal Pradesh.
In Bihar, four candidates appear well positioned to win, while the fifth seat has become the focus of a direct contest. The contest pits NDA candidate Upendra Kushwaha against AD Singh from the Grand Alliance. The alliance currently holds 35 legislators but requires the backing of 41 members to secure victory. Support from five AIMIM legislators and one BSP member has strengthened the alliance’s position, though the final outcome will depend on voting.
Odisha is also witnessing a close contest for the fourth seat. The BJP holds a strong numerical advantage in the 147 member assembly with the backing of independent legislators, which places two of its candidates in a comfortable position. Meanwhile, the BJD is expected to secure one seat easily, while the remaining seat will depend on additional support from other parties.
In Haryana, the contest has become complex due to the entry of an independent candidate backed by the BJP. While both the BJP and Congress are expected to secure one seat each based on current numbers, the outcome of the remaining contest may hinge on cross voting by legislators.
With several seats still undecided, the results from Bihar, Odisha and Haryana could produce unexpected outcomes once the counting begins later in the day.
