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Friday, February 20, 2026
TopicRajya Sabha election

Topic: Rajya Sabha election

RS polls: What’s draw of lots that sealed the fate of Congress’s Abhishek Manu Singhvi in Himachal

If 2 or more candidates get equal votes, then returning officer shall decide by lot which of them shall be excluded, as per Conduct of Election Rules. Both candidates had 34 votes each.

How cross-voting & SP’s failure to keep flock together helped BJP secure 8 seats in RS polls in UP

SP bagged 2 seats. Going by strength of parties in the assembly, BJP would have secured 7 seats & SP 3. However, BJP fielded an 8th candidate at the last moment, forcing a contest.

Congress expects runaway win in lone Himachal RS seat. But BJP pick has party on edge

BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan is up against Congress’ Abhishek Manu Singhvi. While Congress has majority of MLAs, several legislators are said to be aggrieved with state government.

Defectors, homegrown workers, caste — political messaging behind parties’ Maharashtra RS picks

Ashok Chavan among BJP's candidates, Congress opts for Dalit leader. Milind Deora Shiv Sena's choice & Praful Patel NCP's. Elections for 6 of state's RS seats to be held on 27 Feb.

Dorjee Lepcha is BJP’s pick for Rajya Sabha seat from Sikkim, where it rose from zero

Dorjee Lepcha is the MLA from Gnathang Machong. BJP says 'this is the first time a representation of a national party member from Sikkim will be made in the Rajya Sabha'.

Maken & Choudhry’s battle over ‘invalid RS vote’ has Haryana Congress on edge, Hooda wades in

Maken has accused Kiran Choudhry of casting an ‘invalid’ vote that contributed to his defeat. She has dismissed the allegation & claimed that he is part of a ‘conspiracy’ against her.

Why sleuths shouldn’t be after Rahul, and how BJP’s maths grade makes up for verbal gaffes

The best cartoons of the day, chosen by the editors at ThePrint.

Keep your MLAs close, Independents closer – lesson for Maha Vikas Aghadi after Rajya Sabha polls

While Sena's Sanjay Raut has blamed Independent MLAs for the loss, NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said the MVA needs to keep Independents closer.

A vacancy in BJP no one wants, Congress’ pain of outsourcing and saffronised ‘Saubhagya Nagar’

Supporters of actor Mithun Chakraborty are asking about the benefits of associating with BJP. The party's state unit is asking the same question back: 'what did we gain?'

Congress’ ‘last resort’ for RS election — Party’s Rajasthan & Haryana MLAs head for hotels

Congress is herding its MLAs from Rajasthan and Haryana into luxury properties to prevent horse-trading ahead of the June 10 Rajya Sabha elections.

On Camera

India can sell its vision, but it can’t spectacle its way to AI power

The challenge of translating the AI wave into livelihoods is a bigger governing test for PM Modi than collecting selfies with Silicon Valley’s elite.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

Embraer moves full throttle in pursuit of IAF contract, ties up with Hindalco after Adani

IAF is firming up plans to revamp airlift capabilities with medium transport aircraft that will be assembled in India & serve as its main workhorse. Embraer is leading contender as of now.

The new Great Game—Trump’s playing for time, China for leverage & India for wiggle room

This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.