Agencies
NEW DELHI, February 25
Biennial elections to 13 Rajya Sabha seats in six states, of which 12 are falling vacant in April, will be held on March 21, the Election Commission today announced.
While the sole seat from Nagaland was also to fall vacant in April, sitting member Khekiho Zimomi of Naga People’s Front passed away in November last. The election to that seat is also being held with others.
Out of these seats, five are currently with Congress, two each with BJP and SAD and three with CPI(M).
According to the Election Commission, the notification for the election would be issued on March 4, while the last date of making nomination expires on March 11. Scrutiny would take place on March 12 and the last date of withdrawal is March 14.
The Commission said out of the five seats to be filled from Punjab, three are to be filled by holding one election and other two through another election. But the dates are times of the two polls are the same.
EC explained that separate polls are necessary as these seats “belong to two different biennial cycles”.
“Further, the term of office of the members to be elected to the council of States (Rajya Sabha) from the state of Punjab shall be subject to the decision of the Supreme Court” in a case pending before it (EC Vs Devesh Chandra Thakur and others), it said.
