Our Bureau
New Delhi
The Election Commission on Thursday announced that voting for 26 Rajya Sabha seats across eight states will be held on June 18, with the elections being conducted following the completion of the six-year term of several sitting members, including former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The counting of votes will take place on the same day after polling concludes.
According to the Election Commission, the seats are falling vacant between June 21 and July 19 as the terms of existing members come to an end. In addition to the regular biennial elections, two bypolls will also be conducted to fill vacancies in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu after resignations by sitting members.
The polls will cover seats from multiple states, making the election significant for both the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition INDIA bloc as they seek to strengthen their numbers in the Upper House of Parliament. Political observers believe the outcome could alter the balance of power in the Rajya Sabha, where numbers remain crucial for passing key legislation.
The election notification is expected to be issued in the coming days, while nominations will be scrutinised before candidates withdraw, if necessary, ahead of voting day. Members of Legislative Assemblies in the concerned states will cast their votes under the proportional representation system using the single transferable vote method.
The upcoming elections have also drawn attention because of the retirement of several senior leaders from the Rajya Sabha, including JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, both of whom have played major roles in national politics over the years.
