New Delhi, February 18 Biennial elections to 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states, which are becoming vacant on different dates in April, will be held on March 16, the Election Commission said on Wednesday.
The states where seats are becoming vacant are Maharashtra (7 seats), Odisha (4 seats), Telangana (2 seats), Tamil Nadu (6 seats), Chhattisgarh (2 seats), West Bengal (5 seats), Assam (3 seats), Haryana (2 seats), Himachal Pradesh (1 seat) and Bihar (5 seats).
These seats are becoming vacant on April 2 and 9, and notifications for the elections will be issued on February 26.
As per established practice, polling on March 16 will be held between 9 am and 4 pm, and votes will be counted from 5 pm on the same day.
Among the prominent MPs retiring are Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP), Abhishek Singhvi (Congress), Saket Gokhale (TMC), Ramdas Athawale (RPI-A), M Thambidurai (AIADMK) and Tiruchi Siva (DMK).