1. The Rajya Sabha biennial elections began on Tuesday.
2. 41 candidates have already secured their seats unopposed in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Himachal Pradesh.
3. The vacant seats in these states are now open for contest.
New Delhi, Feb 27: The Rajya Sabha biennial elections kicked off on Tuesday, with 41 candidates already securing their seats unopposed across three states: Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Himachal Pradesh. The remaining seats in these states are now up for grabs.
Polling Details
- States in Focus: Polling is underway for 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, four in Karnataka, and one in Himachal Pradesh.
- Timing: The polling is scheduled from 9 am to 4 pm, with counting set to take place later in the day starting from 5 pm.
- Shadow of Cross-Voting: Parties are closely monitoring their MLAs amid concerns of cross-voting, which could influence the outcome of the elections.
Contesting States
Uttar Pradesh
- Candidates: The BJP has fielded eight candidates, while the opposition Samajwadi Party has nominated three.
- Expected Competition: While both parties have sufficient numbers to secure seats, a competitive scenario is likely due to the BJP’s nomination of Sanjay Seth as its eighth candidate.
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Karnataka
- Candidates: Five candidates are contesting, including three from Congress, one from BJP, and one from JD(S).
- Whips Issued: All parties have issued whips to their MLAs, who are the voters in the election, amid concerns of potential cross-voting.
Himachal Pradesh
- Candidate Support: Congress has issued a whip to its MLAs to vote for the party candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
- Allegations: BJP alleges pressure tactics by Congress, asserting MLAs’ right to vote as per their discretion.
Winners Declared Unopposed
- Notable Winners: BJP President JP Nadda, Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Ashwani Vaishnaw, and former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi are among the 41 candidates who secured seats unopposed.
- Competitive Seats: However, tough competition is anticipated for the remaining 15 seats, particularly in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.
The Rajya Sabha elections witnessed a mix of unopposed victories and anticipated close contests, reflecting the dynamic political landscape across states.
As polling concludes and counting begins, the outcome will shape the composition of the Upper House, influencing legislative decisions in the days ahead.
