Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 7 (EMN): The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced that elections to fill 13 Rajya Sabha (RS) seats across six states, including Nagaland will be held on March 31.
While the RS MP from Nagaland, KG Kenye and those from Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, and Tripura will retire on April 2, MPs from Punjab will retire on April 9.
The ECI informed that the notification on the biennial elections will be issued on March 14; last date of nominations on March 21; scrutiny on March 22; and last date for withdrawal of candidatures on March 24.
Polling will be held on March 31 from 9 am to 4 pm and counting of votes will be done on the same day at 5 pm.
A highly placed source from the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) said that a decision is yet to be taken on the upcoming RS elections. Sources from Naga People’s Front (NPF) also said that ‘it is yet to discuss’ on it.
However, sources from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed that “this seat belongs to BJP; so far we have received eight candidates” and that they were not the sitting members of Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
It also hinted that if it finds a suitable, efficient and capable leader, chance would be given to the candidate from the eastern Nagaland, considering 20 legislators from the area.
Sources went on to inform that three-four candidates from eastern Nagaland area have applied.
It may be mentioned that the NDPP, BJP and NPF as well as the Independent MLAs came together last year to form an all-party government under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). So, it is uncertain which party will get the seat this time.