RS polls on March 16. Congress eyes both Telangana seats. Singhvi renomination likely

The Election Commission of India has issued the notification for the biennial Rajya Sabha elections to fill 37 seats across 10 states , with polling scheduled for March 16 , if required.

The last date for filing nominations is March 5 , scrutiny will take place on March 6 , and candidates may withdraw their nominations until March 9 . Voting, wherever necessary, will be held between 9 am and 4 pm , followed by counting of votes the same day.

For the two Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant from Telangana , the vacancies arise as the terms of Abhishek Manu Singhvi of the Indian National Congress and K. R. Suresh Reddy of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi is set to expire in April.

According to various media reports , Singhvi is likely to be renominated by the Congress, effectively settling one of the two seats.

With the Congress holding 64 seats in the Telangana Legislative Assembly , along with tacit support from the All India Majlis‑e‑Ittehadul Muslimeen and MLAs aligned with the ruling party from other formations, the party is widely expected to secure both seats from the state.

As a result, attention has shifted to the second seat , which has triggered intense lobbying by senior leaders within the Congress . Names doing the rounds include Justice Sudarshan Reddy , V. Hanumantha Rao , Vem Narender Reddy , and M. Kodanda Reddy , sources said.