The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially announced that biennial elections are scheduled to take place on February 27, 2024, for 56 Rajya Sabha seats across 15 states. This electoral event will play a crucial role in shaping the composition of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India’s Parliament.
Out of the 56 seats, 50 members from 13 states are set to conclude their terms of office on April 2, while the remaining six members from two states will retire on April 3. The biennial elections will be a significant democratic exercise, allowing citizens in the respective states to participate in the selection of their representatives to the Rajya Sabha.
The Rajya Sabha, known as the Council of States, serves as a critical legislative body where members contribute to the legislative process by deliberating on national issues, proposing amendments, and scrutinizing bills. The biennial elections are an integral part of the democratic system, ensuring the continuous representation of states in the upper house.
The Election Commission of India, in a press note, highlighted the importance of these biennial elections and the need for a fair and transparent electoral process. The declaration sets the stage for political parties to strategize and nominate candidates for the upcoming elections.
The term of office of 56 members of the Council of States elected from the following 15 states is due to expire on their retirement in April 2024, as detailed below:
| Name of State | No. of members retiring | Date of retirement |
| Andhra Pradesh | 3 | 2.4.2024 |
| Bihar | 6 | |
| Chhattisgarh | 1 | |
| Gujarat | 4 | |
| Haryana | 1 | |
| Himachal Pradesh | 1 | |
| Karnataka | 4 | |
| Madhya Pradesh | 5 | |
| Maharashtra | 6 | |
| Telangana | 3 | |
| Uttar Pradesh | 10 | |
| Uttarakhand | 1 | |
| West Bengal | 5 | |
| Odisha | 3 | 3.4.2024 |
| Rajasthan | 3 |
Now, the Commission has decided to conduct biennial elections to the Council of States from above mentioned States in accordance with the following programme:
| Sr No | Events | Dates |
| 1 | Issue of Notifications | 8th February, 2024 (Thursday) |
| 2 | Last date for making nominations | 15th February, 2024 (Thursday) |
| 3 | Scrutiny of nominations | 16th February, 2024 (Friday) |
| 4 | Last date for withdrawal of candidatures | 20th February, 2024 (Tuesday) |
| 5 | Date of Poll | 27th February, 2024 (Tuesday) |
| 6 | Hours of Poll | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm |
| 7 | Counting of Votes | 27th February, 2024 (Tuesday) at 5:00 pm |
| 8 | Date before which election shall be completed | 29th February, 2024 (Thursday) |
The Commission has directed that for the purpose of marking preference(s) on the ballot paper, only integrated violet colour sketch pen(s) of pre-fixed specification, provided by the Returning Officer, shall be used. No other pen shall, under any circumstances, be used in the above-said elections.
Adequate measures for close monitoring of the election process by appointing observers shall be taken to ensure a free and fair election.
As the electoral process unfolds, citizens across the 15 states will witness the democratic machinery in action, exercising their right to vote and contributing to the selection of representatives who will voice their concerns and interests in the Rajya Sabha.
