ECI Announces Rajya Sabha and MLC Election Schedule for October: Know Dates, Seats and Key Details

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the schedule for the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections, with polling for 12 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal scheduled for October 16, 2026. The poll panel has also announced elections for 28 Legislative Council seats across Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh on October 23.

The Rajya Sabha elections include biennial polls for 11 seats that are falling vacant, along with a by-election for one West Bengal seat that became vacant following the resignation of Trinamool Congress MP Rukmini Mallik. SIR Notices: Congress Asks ECI To Address Voters’ Concerns Over Risk of Name Deletion.

Rajya Sabha Elections on October 16

Of the 11 seats facing biennial elections, 10 are from Uttar Pradesh and one from Uttarakhand. The West Bengal seat will be contested through a separate by-election.

The election notification will be issued on September 29, while October 6 will be the last date for filing nominations. Scrutiny of nominations will take place on October 7, followed by the deadline for withdrawal of candidature on October 9.

Polling will be held from 9 am to 4 pm on October 16, with counting scheduled to begin at 5 pm the same day.

10 Rajya Sabha Seats in Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh seats include those held by members whose terms are ending, as well as a seat that became vacant after former Rajya Sabha member Dinesh Sharma resigned following his appointment as Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. People Will Support BJP in Bypolls as They Did During Assembly Elections:  West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh.

The retiring Uttar Pradesh members include Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Arun Singh, Brijlal, BL Verma, Ram Gopal Yadav, Neeraj Shekhar, Geeta alias Chandraprabha, Ramji, Seema and Dinesh Sharma. Uttarakhand's retiring member is Naresh Bansal.

West Bengal Rajya Sabha By-Election

The Election Commission has also scheduled a by-election for one Rajya Sabha seat from West Bengal. The seat fell vacant following the resignation of Trinamool Congress MP Rukmini Mallik. Voting for the seat will take place alongside the other Rajya Sabha elections on October 16.

MLC Elections for 28 Seats

The ECI has separately announced biennial elections for 28 Legislative Council seats across four states. Uttar Pradesh will vote for 11 seats, including five Graduates' and six Teachers' constituencies. Bihar has eight seats — four Graduates' and four Teachers' constituencies.

Maharashtra will have elections for five seats, comprising three Graduates' and two Teachers' constituencies. Karnataka will elect members for four seats, with two each from Graduates' and Teachers' constituencies.

MLC Polling on October 23

The notification for the Legislative Council elections will also be issued on September 29. Candidates can file nominations until October 6, while scrutiny will take place on October 7. The final date for withdrawal of candidature is October 9. Polling will be held on October 23 from 8 am to 4 pm, with counting scheduled for October 27.

The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect in the concerned Graduates' and Teachers' constituencies in the four states. The Election Commission has also directed voters in the Rajya Sabha polls to use only the specified violet-colour sketch pens supplied by the Returning Officers for marking preferences on ballot papers.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 22, 2026 01:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).