Biennial elections to 58 Rajya Sabha seats from 16 States, which are falling vacant in April-May, and by-poll to one seat from Kerala, will be held on March 23, according to the Election Commission. The process will be completed on March 26.
The term of office of 58 members representing 16 States is due to expire on their retirement in April-May. While 10 of them are from Uttar Pradesh, six each are from Bihar and Maharashtra, five each from Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, and four members are from Karnataka.
Four more seats from Gujarat, three each from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and Rajasthan, two from Jharkhand and one each from Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are also falling vacant.
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As MP Veerendra Kumar from Kerala tendered his resignation on December 20 last year, there will be a by-poll on March 23 for the seat, said the Commission.
Notifications for the polls will be issued on March 5. The last date of making the nominations is March 12, while the last date for withdrawal of candidature is March 15. Votes will be counted after 5 p.m. on March 23.
“The Commission has directed that for the purpose of marking preference(s) on the ballot paper, only integrated violet paper sketch pen (s) of pre-fixed specification, provided by the Returning Officer, shall be used. No other pen shall, under any circumstances, be used…,” said the EC.
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