JAMMU: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced the schedule for biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The elections will fill four vacant seats, which arose following the retirement of Mir Mohammad Fayaz and Shamsher Singh (February 10, 2021), and Ghulam Nabi Azad and Nazir Ahmed Laway (May 15, 2021). These seats remained vacant due to the absence of a legislative electorate after the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir (with legislature) and Ladakh (without legislature) under the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019.
With the formation of the J&K Legislative Assembly, the Commission now has the required electorate to conduct polls. The biennial elections will be held in three separate cycles—one seat, one seat, and two seats respectively—following the legal precedent that mandates separate elections for vacancies arising under different categories.
Key Dates
- Issue of Notifications: October 6, 2025
- Last Date for Nominations: October 13, 2025
- Scrutiny of Nominations: October 14, 2025
- Last Date for Withdrawal: October 16, 2025
- Polling & Counting: October 24, 2025 (9:00 AM–4:00 PM; counting at 5:00 PM)
- Completion of Election Process: October 28, 2025
The ECI has mandated that only integrated violet sketch pens supplied by the Returning Officer shall be used to mark preferences on ballot papers. Observers will also be appointed to ensure a free, fair, and transparent election process.
The Commission further noted that the tenure of the elected members will remain subject to the outcome of the pending Supreme Court case—ECI vs. Devesh Chandra Thakur & Others (SLP(C) No. 17123/2015).
Rajesh Kumar Singh, Under Secretary to the Commission, emphasized that the polls are being conducted strictly in line with legal provisions and judicial precedents.
