Rajya Sabha election 2026 results have officially transformed the political landscape of the Upper House. The polling process concluded on March 16, 2026, across multiple states, including Bihar, Odisha, and Haryana. On Monday, elections for Rajya Sabha seats were held in several states across the country. A total of 37 seats were up for grabs in 10 states. In seven of these states, the situation was so clear that 26 candidates were declared elected without any contest. In Assam, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana, the candidates were unchallenged and directly reached the Rajya Sabha.
But the real political contest was seen in Bihar, Odisha and Haryana, where voting was held for 11 seats. Voting took place for five seats in Bihar, four in Odisha, and two in Haryana. The elections in these states faced serious issues. Numerous incidents of political manoeuvring occurred. Additionally, there were instances of cross-voting and ongoing disputes over the ballot papers. This biennial election saw intense competition, especially for the 11 seats where voting was required. While many candidates were elected unopposed earlier, the final phase witnessed significant political manoeuvring. Results reflect a major push by the ruling alliance to strengthen its numerical majority. Supporters are celebrating as their chosen leaders prepare to enter the Parliament.
Rajya Sabha Election 2026, Bihar: A Clean Sweep for the NDA
The most discussed topic was the Rajya Sabha elections in Bihar. There was a direct contest between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Mahagathbandhan here. On behalf of NDA, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, BJP National President Nitin Naveen, Upendra Kushwaha, Ramnath Thakur, and Shivesh Kumar were in the fray. Whereas the Mahagathbandhan had made Amarendra Dhari Singh its candidate.
Rajya Sabha election 2026 in Bihar concluded with a massive victory for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). All five seats in the state were bagged by the ruling coalition, leaving the Mahagathbandhan empty-handed. This victory was aided by several opposition MLAs skipping the voting process. Heavyweights like Nitish Kumar and Nitin Nabin secured their spots with ease. A total of 202 NDA MLAs voted, with Nitish Kumar and Nitin Naveen receiving the support of 44 MLAs each.
Related Read: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar will surprisingly shift to the Rajya Sabha
Rashtriya Lok Morcha leaders Upendra Kushwaha and Ramnath Thakur got 42 votes each. However, the contest for the fifth seat was very interesting. There was a tough fight for this seat between NDA candidate Shivesh Kumar and Amarendra Dhari Singh of the Mahagathbandhan. In the first round, Amarendra Dhari Singh received 37 first preference votes, while Shivesh Kumar received 30. But the subsequent counting of second preference votes changed the game. Four MLAs of the Grand Alliance stayed away from voting, which directly benefited the NDA. Due to second preference votes, the total vote value of Shivesh Kumar increased to 4202, while Amarendra Dhari Singh remained at 3700 vote value. Thus, the transfer of second-preference votes ensured a win for the fifth seat. This result reaffirms the NDA’s current dominance in the Bihar state assembly.
Rajya Sabha Election 2026 Odisha: Cross-Voting Drama and Victories
Rajya Sabha elections were quite interesting in Odisha also. In the elections held for four seats here, the political equations between Biju Janata Dal, Congress and BJP were seen changing. The Rajya Sabha election 2026 in Odisha was marked by unexpected twists and cross-voting allegations. The BJP managed to win three out of the four available seats in the state.
BJP state president Manmohan Samal won his seat, while Sujeet Kumar, also from the BJP, was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha. The most interesting victory was that of former Union Minister Dilip Rai. One of these winners included an Independent candidate, Dilip Ray, who received backing from the saffron party. According to the information, some MLAs of BJD and Congress did cross-voting, due to which the path of Dilip Rai became easier.
In contrast, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) could only secure a single seat this time around. Reports suggest that multiple MLAs from the opposition ranks voted against their party lines. Consequently, the BJP has significantly improved its tally in the eastern state.
Rajya Sabha Election 2026 Haryana: High-Stakes Contest Ends in a Split
Rajya Sabha election 2026 for the two seats in Haryana ended after a long night of counting delays. The Election Commission had to halt the process briefly due to complaints regarding “vote secrecy.” Both the BJP and Congress filed complaints with the Election Commission on this issue. The Congress demanded the invalidation of the vote of BJP MLA and minister Anil Vij, while the BJP questioned the votes of Congress MLAs Paramvir Singh and Bharat Beniwal. The Commission declared the votes of Anil Vij and Bharat Beniwal valid, while the vote of Congress MLA Paramveer Singh was declared invalid.
Eventually, the results were declared with the BJP and the Congress winning one seat each. Sanjay Bhatia from the BJP and Karamvir Boudh from the Congress emerged as the winners. This split result came after intense speculation and the disqualification of a few invalid votes. Both parties are now analysing the voting patterns of their legislators.
Results Summary Table
| State | Total Seats | Winners (Party/Alliance) | Key Winners |
| Bihar | 5 | NDA (5), Opposition (0) | Nitish Kumar, Nitin Nabin |
| Odisha | 4 | BJP (3), BJD (1) | Manmohan Samal, Santrupt Misra |
| Haryana | 2 | BJP (1), Congress (1) | Sanjay Bhatia, Karamvir Boudh |
| Tamil Nadu | 6 | Elected Unopposed | S. Murugan, M. Shanmugam |
| Maharashtra | 7 | Elected Unopposed | Various |
Understanding the Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha, or the Council of States, is the Upper House of India’s Parliament. Unlike the Lok Sabha, it is a permanent body and is never fully dissolved. Instead, one-third of its members retire every two years, necessitating biennial elections to fill the vacancies.
When are these elections conducted?
Elections are held every two years for the seats of members whose six-year terms are ending. The President of India issues the notification, and finally, the Election Commission manages the schedule.
Who can contest the Rajya Sabha elections?
To contest, a person must be a citizen of India and at least 30 years of age. They must be registered as voters in any parliamentary constituency. Crucially, the candidate is usually nominated by a political party and must be proposed by at least 10% of the members of the state assembly.
How is the voting done?
Members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies. They use a system called Proportional Representation by means of a Single Transferable Vote (STV). In this system, voters rank candidates by preference rather than choosing just one. Thus, this ensures that the representation in the Upper House reflects the strength of parties in the various state legislatures.