Election Commission declares bypolls to 6 Rajya Sabha seats in six states

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New Delhi: Election Commission of India on Thursday (September 9) decided to hold bypolls for the six Rajya Sabha seats, including one each in West Bengal, Assam, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh while two seats in Tamil Nadu, on October 4. 

The Rajya Sabha seats have fallen vacant due to various reasons like resignations, death and end of the tenure of members.

The Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha (RS) seat got vacant after BJP leader and former Union cabinet minister Thaawarchand Gehlot was elevated as the Karnataka Governor in July.

Election Commission of India to hold Rajya Sabha bypolls for six seats - one each in West Bengal, Assam, Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh & two seats in Tamil Nadu on October 4

Bypolls for an Assembly Council seat in Bihar to be held on October 4 pic.twitter.com/wj2AU0l7yv — ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2021

The West Bengal Rajya Sabha seat fell vacant after the resignation of TMC leader and cabinet minister in West Bengal government Manas Ranjan Bhunia.

In Assam, the seat held by assembly speaker Biswajit Daimary fell vacant after he resigned from the membership of the upper house of Parliament and his earlier party, the Bodoland People's Front, and joined the BJP before the recent polls in the state.

The two seats in Tamil Nadu fell vacant due to the resignation of AIADMK leaders K P Munusamy and R Vaithilingam who are now members of the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly.

According to reports, the BJP may field Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal from the Assam seat as he is yet to become a member of either house of Parliament.

The Maharashtra seat got vacant due to the death of Congress leader Rajeev Satav in May this year due to COVID-19 infection. In Puducherry, the RS seat will fall vacant soon as the term of incumbent member N Gokulakrishnan ends on October 6.

The EC said in its order that all "broad guidelines of COVID-19" have to be followed during the election process, that is from the time of issue of notification to the counting of votes.

According to the ECI, "The chief secretaries of states concerned are being directed to depute a senior officer from the state to ensure that the extant instructions regarding COVID-19 containment measures are complied with while making arrangements for conducting the election."

Meanwhile, the Election Commission will also conduct bypolls for an Assembly Council seat in Bihar to be held on October 4.

(With Agency Inputs)