Congress releases list of candidates for 2026 Rajya Sabha polls

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Thursday (March 5, 2026) released the list of party candidates approved for the upcoming 2026 biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha.

According to a statement by the party, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge approved the candidature of Phulo Devi Netam (Chhattisgarh), Karamvir Singh Boudh (Haryana), Anurag Sharma (Himachal Pradesh), M. Christopher Tilak (Tamil Nadu), and Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Vem Narender Reddy (Telangana) to contest the elections.

The announcement was made in an official communication issued by K.C. Venugopal, General Secretary of the AICC.

Mr. Singhvi has been re-nominated as the party’s Rajya Sabha candidate from Telangana, along with Narender Reddy. Earlier in the day, Vem Narender Reddy, who is considered a close aide to Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, expressed gratitude towards the Congress high command upon being nominated by the party to contest the Rajya Sabha elections.

Polling for the upcoming biennial elections to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) to fill 37 seats across 10 States is scheduled for March 16, with the counting of votes at 5 p.m. on the same day.

The notification will be issued on February 26, commencing the election process. The last date of nominations is March 5, followed by scrutiny on March 6. The candidates can withdraw their nominations till March 9. 

(With inputs from ANI)