The process for filing nominations for the biennial elections to the Council of States, Rajya Sabha, will start on Thursday. Candidates are gearing up to contest 37 seats in the Upper House. The Election Commission of India had earlier announced the schedule for these elections to fill 37 vacancies across 10 states.
Polling is scheduled for March 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with vote counting set for 5:00 p.m. on the same day. The Election Commission has established a detailed timetable to ensure a smooth electoral process due to the upcoming vacancies. Scrutiny of nomination papers will occur on March 6, and the deadline for withdrawal of candidatures is March 9.
The Commission has specified that only specific violet sketch pens provided by the Returning Officer can be used for marking preferences on ballot papers. Any other writing instrument is prohibited. Observers will oversee the election process to maintain transparency and fairness. The Commission emphasizes strict adherence to election-related guidelines to uphold the integrity of the Rajya Sabha elections.
Political parties are actively preparing for the elections. The BJP has announced its candidates, including Nitin Nabin, Shivesh Kumar, Terash Gowalla, Jogen Mohan, Laxmi Verma, Sanjay Bhatia, Manmohan Samal, Sujeet Kumar, and Rahul Sinha. The Congress has declared its support for NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar in the Rajya Sabha polls. The BJP has nominated Vinod Tawde and Ramdas Athawale, among others, for the elections.
