Rajya Sabha elections
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Friday announced that elections for 24 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states will be held on June 18. According to the poll body, the vacancies are arising due to the retirement of sitting members between June 21 and July 19.The elections will cover four seats each in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka; three each in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan; two in Jharkhand; and one seat each in Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.The EC said June 8 will be the last date for filing nominations.Polling for the Rajya Sabha elections will take between 9 am and 4 pm, with counting scheduled to begin at 5 pm the same day. The Election Commission said the entire poll process will conclude by June 20.The Commission clarified that voters will be allowed to use only the integrated violet sketch pens supplied by the Returning Officer for marking preferences on ballot papers. Use of any other pen during voting will not be permitted.The ECI also said observers would be deployed and other necessary arrangements made to ensure free and fair elections.The elections are being held for seats across Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Mizoram. Several prominent leaders are set to retire from the Upper House, including Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh from Madhya Pradesh and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda along with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge from Karnataka.Polling will also be conducted for the Rajya Sabha seat earlier held by JMM founder Shibu Soren from Jharkhand, which has remained vacant since August 2025 following his death.Other members completing their terms include Ayodhya Rami Reddy Alla, Pilli Subhaschandra Bose, Rambhai Harjibhai Mokariya, George Kurian, Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, Wanweiroy Kharlukhi, Neeraj Dangi, Rajendra Gehlot, Nabam Rebia, Iranna Kadadi and K Vanlalvena, among others.The Rajya Sabha, or Council of States, is the Upper House of Parliament whose members are elected by MLAs from states and union territories through proportional representation.
