NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha is poised for a significant shake-up with over 70 vacancies expected between April and November 2026 due to the scheduled retirement of several senior members from across the political lines.
Among the prominent MPs whose terms will end during this period are: NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, senior BJP leader Hardeep Puri, former PM HD Deve Gowda, Vice Chairman of the House and JDU MP Harivansh, SP MP Ram Gopal Yadav, Congress’s Digvijaya Singh, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, TMC MP Saket Gokhale, RLP MP Upendra Kushwaha, BJP national general secretary and MP Arun Singh, DMK MP P Wilson, and several others.
In total, the House will face as many as 75 vacancies during this window, prompting fresh elections across the states to fill the seats.
Prior to those retiring in 2026, six members, including DMK’s Wilson and PMK’s Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, are set to complete their six-year terms just three days after the commencement of this year’s Monsoon Session and retire on July 24. This will result in six additional vacancies.
This comes shortly after President Droupadi Murmu nominated four eminent personalities – including a former diplomat and a noted historian – to the Rajya Sabha on Saturday evening, filling four of the vacant nominated seats.
Currently, the strength of the Rajya Sabha stands at 236. With the addition of the four new nominated members, it will rise to 240 in the 245-member House. However, following the retirement of six members on 24 July, the strength is expected to drop again to 235.
Kharge’s term in the House is scheduled to end on June 25, 2026, while Deve Gowda will retire on April 9, 2026, so will RS Vice Chairman Harivansh. Sharad Pawar’s term ends in April as well.
Notably, Maharashtra alone will see the retirement of seven members in 2026, including Shiv Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi, and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale. JMM MP and former Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren, and Congress’s Shaktisinh Gohil also retire in 2026.
