The Election Commission of India on Friday announced elections for 24 Rajya Sabha seats spread across 10 states, with polling scheduled to take place on June 18. The Commission also declared by-elections for one seat each in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The upcoming polls are being held as the terms of several sitting Rajya Sabha members are set to expire in June and July, prompting the need to fill the vacancies in the Upper House of Parliament.
Among the prominent leaders whose terms are ending are Mallikarjun Kharge and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, both representing Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha. Their retirement from the current term has added political significance to the elections, especially in Karnataka, where multiple seats will go to polls. Political parties are expected to finalize candidates in the coming days as preparations intensify ahead of the nomination process.
According to the schedule released by the Election Commission, nominations for the Rajya Sabha elections can be filed between June 1 and June 8. Scrutiny of nomination papers will follow shortly after, while candidates will have the option to withdraw nominations within the prescribed deadline. Voting will take place inside the respective state legislative assemblies from 9 am to 4 pm on June 18, and the counting of votes will begin at 5 pm the same day.
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The states heading for Rajya Sabha elections include Andhra Pradesh with four seats, Gujarat with five seats, Jharkhand with two seats, Madhya Pradesh with three seats, and Karnataka with four seats. In addition, one seat each in Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram will also go to polls. These elections are expected to influence the numerical strength of major political parties in the Rajya Sabha, where alliances and regional support often play a crucial role in legislative proceedings.
Rajya Sabha members are elected indirectly by elected members of state legislative assemblies through a system of proportional representation using the single transferable vote method. Unlike Lok Sabha elections, ordinary citizens do not directly vote in these contests. The outcome often depends on the strength of parties within state assemblies, making these elections strategically important for both national and regional political formations seeking influence in Parliament.
The by-elections announced for Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu are also likely to attract political attention, particularly if they affect the balance of power in closely contested assemblies or alliances. With Parliament sessions and key legislative agendas expected later this year, the composition of the Rajya Sabha remains significant for the passage of bills and constitutional amendments. Political parties are therefore expected to approach the June 18 elections with careful planning and strong candidate selection strategies.
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