The Election Commission has issued notifications for biennial elections for 37 Rajya Sabha seats in 10 states. Nominations can be filed from today until March 5th. Voting will take place on the 16th of the following month.
Seven seats in Maharashtra, six seats in Tamil Nadu, five seats each in Bihar and West Bengal, four seats in Odisha, three seats in Assam, two seats each in Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Haryana, and one seat in Himachal Pradesh are becoming vacant.
Union Ministers Ramnath Thakur and Ramdas Athawale, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, NCP-SP leader Sharad Pawar, RLM leader Upendra Kushwaha, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, AIADMK leader M Thambidurai, and DMK leader Tiruchi Shiva are among those whose terms in the Upper House are ending in April.
The Election Commission has directed that only pre-specified, violet-colored pens provided by the Returning Officer can be used to mark preferences on the ballot paper. It stated that no other pen can be used for marking preferences in the Rajya Sabha elections. The Election Commission said that adequate measures, including appointing observers, will be taken to ensure a free and fair election.
