The Election Commission of India on Thursday announced the schedule for biennial elections to 24 Rajya Sabha seats spread across 10 states.
According to the poll panel, voting for the Upper House seats will take place on June 18, while counting of votes will be conducted on the same day.
The official notification for the elections will be issued on June 1.
Rajya Sabha Seats Falling Vacant Next Month
The seats are becoming vacant as several Members of Parliament are completing their terms next month.
Among the prominent leaders whose Rajya Sabha tenure is ending are:
- H. D. Deve Gowda
- George Kurian
- Ravneet Singh
State-Wise Breakdown Of Rajya Sabha Vacancies
The biennial elections will cover seats from the following states:
- Four seats each in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka
- Three seats each in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh
- Two seats in Jharkhand
- One seat each in Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram
The elections are expected to be politically significant as parties prepare to strengthen their numbers in the Rajya Sabha ahead of upcoming legislative battles.
EC Also Announces Rajya Sabha Bypolls
Apart from the biennial elections, the Election Commission also announced bypolls for one Rajya Sabha seat each in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
The vacancies arose after:
- Sunetra Ajit Pawar resigned following election to the Maharashtra Assembly
- C. V. Shanmugam vacated his seat after being elected to the Tamil Nadu Assembly
The bypolls will also be conducted on June 18 along with the biennial elections.
Political Parties Begin Preparations
With the announcement of the election schedule, major political parties are expected to begin candidate selection and alliance discussions immediately.
The Rajya Sabha elections often reflect the political strength of parties in state assemblies, making the contests strategically important for both the ruling NDA and opposition blocs.
