The Election Commission of India on Friday announced elections for 24 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states, including one seat each in four Northeastern states, with polling scheduled for June 18.
According to the Election Commission, the elections are being held due to the retirement of sitting Rajya Sabha members between June 21 and July 19 this year.
In the Northeast, one seat each will go to polls in Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. Besides these states, elections will also be held in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.
Among the states heading for elections, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka will each elect four members to the Upper House, while Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan will elect three members each. Jharkhand will elect two Rajya Sabha members.
The Election Commission said June 8 has been fixed as the last date for filing nominations, while scrutiny of nomination papers will take place the following day. Polling and counting of votes are scheduled for June 18.
Also read: Rajya Sabha MP receives death threat
Several prominent political leaders are set to retire from the Rajya Sabha during the current cycle, including former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge from Karnataka.
Other leaders whose terms are ending include Union ministers Ravneet Singh from Rajasthan and George Kurian from Madhya Pradesh, along with senior Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh and Shaktisinh Gohil.
The poll panel also announced by-elections for one Rajya Sabha seat each from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
In Maharashtra, the vacancy was created after Sunetra Pawar resigned from the Rajya Sabha following her election to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
Rajya Sabha members are elected indirectly by elected MLAs through a system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.
The upcoming elections are expected to be closely watched in several states where political equations and party strengths in legislative assemblies could influence the final outcome.
Follow us
