New Delhi, September 22 (SDNA): The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for elections to 12 Rajya Sabha seats and 28 seats in the Legislative Councils of four states, setting October as the month for the two rounds of polling.
According to the schedule, polling for the Rajya Sabha seats will take place on October 16. The exercise covers 10 biennial seats from Uttar Pradesh, one from Uttarakhand and one vacant seat from West Bengal, for which a bye-election will be held.
The Commission has also announced biennial elections for 28 Legislative Council seats in Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. These elections, covering Graduates’ and Teachers’ constituencies, will be held on October 23.
Rajya Sabha Polls on October 16
The Rajya Sabha elections will involve members of the respective state legislatures as the electoral college. The Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand seats are being filled through the regular biennial election process, while the West Bengal seat is subject to a separate bye-election because of the vacancy.
Legislative Council Elections on October 23
The second phase of the announced electoral programme will cover 28 Legislative Council seats across the four states. Maharashtra alone has five Council seats included in the schedule, with polling fixed for October 23.
The Election Commission, which administers elections to Parliament and state legislatures, has been releasing the schedules as part of the constitutional electoral process.
With the two polling dates now announced, the respective election authorities will proceed with the remaining stages of the electoral calendar, including nominations, scrutiny and withdrawal of candidature, according to the schedule notified by the Commission.