The political arena is heating up as NDA and INDIA bloc gear up for a fierce contest over 37 Rajya Sabha seats in the elections scheduled for March 16, 2026. With nominations closing on March 5, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Currently, 25 seats are held by the INDIA bloc, while NDA controls 12. Analysts predict NDA could net a gain of 5-6 seats, potentially reshaping the Upper House dynamics.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s upcoming visit to Bihar underscores the NDA’s strategic focus. His meeting with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar signals unbreakable unity within the alliance. This coordinated push aims to consolidate votes and thwart opposition maneuvers ahead of the polls.
Several prominent leaders are retiring this year, including Maharashtra’s Sharad Pawar, Priyanka Chaturvedi, and Ramdas Athawale; Tamil Nadu’s M. Thambidurai, Tiruchi Siva, Kanimozhi, and N.V.N. Somu; West Bengal’s Saket Gokhale, Vikas Ranjan Bhattacharya, and Subrata Bakshi; and Bihar’s Upendra Kushwaha, Ramnath Thakur, and Harivansh Narayan Singh. Notably, Ramdas Athawale has been renominated by BJP.
Fresh faces are poised to enter Rajya Sabha, with potential candidates from Bihar including Nitish Kumar, BJP’s Nitin Nabin, Vinod Tawde, Shivesh Ram, Sanjay Bhatia, and Parth Pawar. These nominations reflect NDA’s plan to bolster its bench strength.
Bihar’s five seats promise the most drama, requiring 41 votes each. NDA commands 202 MLAs but needs 205 for a clean sweep. Opposition unity with Grand Alliance (35), AIMIM (5), and BSP (1) could snag one seat, though cross-voting risks loom large. NDA’s seat-sharing: two for BJP, two for JD(U), one for RLSP.
In Maharashtra, seven seats are up for grabs in a 288-member assembly needing 37 votes per seat. Mahayuti’s 235 MLAs position them for six wins, but internal tussles over allocation—Shiv Sena (Shinde) wants two, BJP pushes 3+1 (RPI)—could spark trouble. Sharad Pawar’s potential candidacy heightens cross-voting fears.
Tamil Nadu’s six seats see DMK eyeing four, AIADMK one, with one in contention. West Bengal’s five: TMC likely holds four, BJP targets CPI(M)’s seat. Odisha’s four could split 2-2 BJP-BJD, or tilt 3-1 BJP. Assam: BJP vs Congress-AIUDF for two; Haryana: one each BJP-Congress; Chhattisgarh: one each; Telangana and Himachal: Congress sweeps.
Projections indicate NDA gains 4-6 seats, boosting BJP from 9 to 13. INDIA bloc faces 4-5 losses. This March 16 showdown won’t just fill 37 seats—it could redefine Rajya Sabha’s power balance, with Bihar and Maharashtra as key battlegrounds.