More than one-third of RS members to retire by Nov 26

Bihar and Bengal polls will influence whether prominent names are renewed or retired, particularly from Opposition.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

The Rajya Sabha is headed for significant changes in the coming months, with more than one-third of its members set to retire within the next year. Between March and June 2026 alone, 57 members will complete their terms, and by November the total climbs to 69, reshaping the composition of the Upper House at a politically sensitive moment.

The results of the upcoming Bihar and West Bengal polls will heavily influence whether prominent names are renewed or retired, particularly from the opposition. With a weaker vote bank compared to the NDA, a poor showing in these states could make it difficult for the INDIA bloc to renominate some of its members.

The first exit will be that of Ranjan Gogoi, nominated member and former Chief Justice of India, whose six-year term ends on 16 March 2026.

This is followed by a large batch in April 2026, when 37 members retire across multiple states. Among them are Ramdas Athawale (Republican Party of India - Athawale, Maharashtra), Sharad Pawar (NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar, Maharashtra), Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena-UBT, Maharashtra), Fauzia Khan (NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar, Maharashtra), Abhishek Manu Singhvi (Congress, Telangana), Harivansh (JD-U, Bihar), Prem Chand Gupta (RJD, Bihar), Upendra Kushwaha (Rashtriya Lok Morcha, Bihar), Ram Nath Thakur (JD-U, Bihar), and A.D. Singh (RJD, Bihar).

Tamil Nadu will see the retirement of DMK leaders Tiruchi Siva, Kanimozhi NVN Somu, N.R. Elango, Anthiyur P. Selvarasu, and M. Thambidurai (AIADMK). West Bengal's contingent includes Subrata Bakshi, Ritabrata Banerjee, Bikash Saket Gokhale, Mausam Noor (all TMC), and Ranjan Bhattacharyya (CPIM).

Odisha will lose Niranjan Bishi, Muzibulla Khan (BJD), Sujeet Kumar and Mamata Mohanta (both BJP).