Rajya Sabha elections will now be held for 16 seats in four states – Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Haryana – after 41 winners were elected unopposed to the Upper House of Parliament on Friday. The elections are to be held on June 10, while the results will be declared on the same day.
The date for withdrawal of candidature was June 3, while the last date for filing nominations was May 31. Voting is being held between June and August to fill 57 Rajya Sabha seats that fell vacant due to retirement of members.
This year, the RS elections are significant as they will take place just a month before the presidential election.
Here’s what you need to know about the process of electing RS members:
What is Rajya Sabha?
India follows the British parliamentary system, so the Rajya Sabha, or the upper house of Parliament, is equivalent to the House of Lords in the United Kingdom. It is a permanent body which is never dissolved and can have a maximum of 250 members as per the constitution.
As of 2021, it has a sanctioned strength of 245, of which 233 are elected from states and union territories. The remaining 12 are nominated by the President, who are chosen for their contribution in the fields of arts, literature, science and social services.
The Vice-President of India is the head of the Upper House, while he also has a Deputy Chairman. Presently Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu is the Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
How are members selected?
The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by open ballot by the single transferable vote. They are indirectly elected by the legislators of the party unlike the Lok Sabha members, who are elected by the public.
One third of the members retire every second year and are replaced by newly elected members. Each member serves for a term of six years. By-elections are held in case of death, disqualification or resignation.
Voting now in 16 seats in four states
After 41 members were declared elected unopposed, elections will now be held on June 10 for six seats in Maharashtra, four each in Rajasthan and Karnataka and two in Haryana.
41 members were elected unopposed on 5 June
At least 41 winners were declared elected unopposed on 5 June. All 11 are in Uttar Pradesh, six in Tamil Nadu, five in Bihar, four in Andhra Pradesh, three each in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, two each in Chhattisgarh, Punjab, and Telangana. In Jharkhand and Uttarakhand, one candidate won without a contest.
Of them, 14 are from BJP, four each from Congress and YSR Congress; Three each from DMK and BJD; Apart from Sibal, two each from AAP, RJD, TRS, AIADMK, one each from JMM, JDU, SP and RLD.
(with PTI inputs)
read all breaking news , today’s fresh news And IPL 2022 Live Updates Here.