Published Feb 19, 2026 | 5:11 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 19, 2026 | 5:11 PM
Congress veteran Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Credit: x.com/DrAMSinghvi
Synopsis: The biennial Rajya Sabha elections from Telangana on 16 March will fill two vacancies as Congress eyes both seats. Abhishek Manu Singhvi is likely to be renominated, while the second seat may hinge on ally support and defections. With BRS and BJP lacking numbers, Congress appears poised to consolidate its parliamentary presence, pending final candidate selection.
The stage is set for the biennial Rajya Sabha elections from Telangana, with political activity gathering momentum ahead of polling scheduled for 16 March.
With two seats falling vacant, the ruling Congress is poised to win one comfortably and with a little bit of effort in maneuvering, the second one too, given its strength in the Legislative Assembly.
The vacancies arise as the terms of senior advocate and Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi and BRS leader KR Suresh Reddy come to an end in April.
Of the two, Singhvi is widely expected to be renominated by the Congress high command, while the second seat — earlier held by BRS — is also likely to go to the ruling party.
The official strength of Congress in the Assembly as on date is 66. Its pre-poll ally CPI has one, BRS 37, BJP eight, and MIM 7.
As the numbers do not stack up in favour of Congress for winning the second seat it would have to rely on the support from its allies CPI and MIM and yet may not have requisite numbers.
It is not known if the turncoat BRS MLAs would vote for Congress. If they do, it would be cake walk for the grand old party.
Singhvi, a senior Supreme Court lawyer and prominent national leader of Congress, was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Telangana in 2024 in a by-election.
His renomination is seen as highly probable given his stature within the party and his role as one of its key voices in Parliament on legal and constitutional matters.
Party insiders suggest the Congress leadership is keen to retain experienced parliamentarians who can articulate its position effectively at the national level.
The choice of the second candidate, however, is generating considerable interest. Several names are understood to be under consideration as the party weighs factors such as caste and regional balance, political loyalty, and organisational experience.
Reports indicate that consultations are underway between the State leadership and the high command in Delhi, with CM A Revanth Reddy and senior State leaders recently engaging in discussions on the issuer.
Among the names doing the rounds in political circles is that of Justice Sudarshan Reddy (Retd.), who had earlier been considered by Opposition parties for national-level positions. While there has been no official confirmation, his name is believed to have been discussed in internal deliberations. Ultimately, however, the final decision will rest with the Congress high command.
For BRS, the upcoming election marks a further test following its loss of power in the State. With insufficient numbers in the Assembly, the party’s ability to retain representation through this round of Rajya Sabha elections appears limited. BJP, too, does not possess adequate strength in the Assembly to independently secure a seat.
The Election Commission is expected to issue the formal notification shortly, after which the nomination process will begin. If Congress fields only two candidates and no other party contests, the election could turn out to be a mere formality. However, any unexpected nominations could necessitate voting under the single transferable vote system.
For now, all indications point to a straightforward contest shaped by legislative arithmetic rather than high drama, with Congress set to consolidate its parliamentary footprint from Telangana by clinching both available seats.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev)
