Polling for 24 seats announced by EC; notable incumbents retiring.
The Election Commission has declared that polling for 24 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states will occur on June 18. This cycle also includes by-elections for one seat each in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Incumbents retiring include figures such as former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Union Ministers Ravneet Singh and George Kurian.
The seats up for election are distributed as follows:
Four seats each in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Karnataka.
Three seats each in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Two seats in Jharkhand.
One seat each in Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram.
The electoral process for these Rajya Sabha seats relies on MLAs within the respective state Assemblies as the voting bloc, a contrast to the electronic voting machines used in Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. Voting for these elections will be conducted via ballot papers.
Political Landscape and Expectations
While the formal announcement concerns 24 seats, a broader perspective indicates that 26 seats are subject to these upcoming elections, including the Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu bypolls. Current assessments suggest that the ruling NDA is expected to retain its strength, holding approximately 18 seats. The Congress, on the other hand, might see a slight increase, potentially reaching five seats.
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Specifically, in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the BJP is anticipated to secure two seats in each state, with the Congress likely obtaining one seat from each. In Jharkhand, the JMM is projected to win two seats, and the TVK is expected to secure its first Rajya Sabha seat.
The retirements commencing from June 21 and extending through July 19 necessitate these elections. One Rajya Sabha seat in Jharkhand has been vacant since the passing of former Chief Minister Shibu Soren.
Background
These biennial elections are a recurring fixture in the Indian political calendar, determining representation in the Upper House of Parliament. The outcomes are closely watched as indicators of shifting party strengths and the effectiveness of electoral strategies at the state level, directly influencing the national political discourse. The current makeup of the Assemblies in the affected states provides a basis for projecting the likely winners, though the intricacies of coalition politics and individual candidate appeal can introduce variability.
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