The Election Commission of India has announced biennial elections to 24 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states, with polling scheduled for June 18. The elections are being held for seats that will fall vacant due to the retirement of sitting members between June and July.
While Assam is not listed among the states going to Rajya Sabha polls in this round, the announcement is relevant for Guwahati because four Northeast seats, one each from Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh, are part of the election schedule.
The Election Commission will hold Rajya Sabha elections for 24 seats across 10 states on June 18, with counting scheduled the same day. Northeast seats from Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh are included, keeping Guwahati’s political circles focused on the wider regional representation in Parliament’s Upper House.
According to the schedule, the election notification will be issued on June 1. The last date for filing nominations is June 8, followed by scrutiny of nominations on June 9. Candidates can withdraw their nominations until June 11.
Polling will be held on June 18 from 9 AM to 4 PM, and counting will begin at 5 PM on the same day. The election process is expected to be completed by June 20.
The 24 seats include four each from Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka; three each from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan; two from Jharkhand; and one each from Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. Some reports listed Gujarat as having five seats, but multiple reports and the official public broadcaster’s summary list four seats from Gujarat and separately mention the 24-seat total.
For Guwahati, the regional angle matters because the city functions as the main political, administrative and media hub for Northeast India. Rajya Sabha representation from neighbouring Northeast states often influences discussions on connectivity, border issues, infrastructure, disaster response, tribal affairs, education, and central funding for the region.
The ECI has also announced bye-elections to two Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. These vacancies arose after the resignations of Sunetra Ajit Pawar from Maharashtra and C. Ve. Shanmugam from Tamil Nadu. The bye-elections will also be held on June 18 on the same schedule.
The Commission has stated that only the integrated violet-coloured sketch pens supplied by Returning Officers will be allowed for marking preferences on ballot papers. This rule is intended to maintain uniformity and prevent invalid marking during voting.
Adequate monitoring measures, including the appointment of observers, will be put in place to ensure free and fair elections.
Unlike Lok Sabha or Assembly elections, Rajya Sabha members are elected by elected MLAs through a system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. This means ordinary voters in Guwahati will not directly vote in this election, but the outcome will still shape representation in Parliament.
The next steps will begin with the issue of notification on June 1, followed by nomination filing and scrutiny. For Guwahati and the Northeast, the key public interest will be on candidate selection in the four regional states and how the elected members raise Northeast-specific issues in the Upper House.
Rajya Sabha Election Schedule
| Stage | Date / Time |
|---|---|
| Notification | June 1 |
| Last date for nominations | June 8 |
| Scrutiny of nominations | June 9 |
| Last date for withdrawal | June 11 |
| Polling | June 18, 9 AM to 4 PM |
| Counting | June 18, 5 PM |
| Process completion | June 20 |
Northeast Seats in This Round
| State | Rajya Sabha Seats Going to Polls |
|---|---|
| Manipur | 1 |
| Meghalaya | 1 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 1 |
| Mizoram | 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Assam included in the June 18 Rajya Sabha elections?
No. Assam is not listed among the 10 states going to the Rajya Sabha polls in this round. However, four Northeast states, Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, are included.
When will the Rajya Sabha elections be held?
Polling for the 24 Rajya Sabha seats will be held on June 18, from 9 AM to 4 PM. Counting will begin at 5 PM on the same day.
Why is this relevant for Guwahati?
Guwahati is the main political and administrative hub of Northeast India. Rajya Sabha representation from neighbouring Northeast states can influence parliamentary discussions on regional development, connectivity, border issues and central funding.
Can ordinary voters vote in Rajya Sabha elections?
No. Rajya Sabha members are elected by elected MLAs of the respective state legislatures through proportional representation using the single transferable vote system.