EC announces elections for 10 Rajya Sabha seats on July 24

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced elections to 10 Rajya Sabha seats across three states– Goa, Gujarat and West Bengal would be held on July 24. Bengal has the most number of seats, which has six, followed by Gujarat which with three seats and Goa has one seat.

The notification for the polls would be issued on July 6, the last date of nominations will be July 13 and the last date for withdrawal of candidatures would be July 17. Meanwhile, the Election Commission said the counting of votes will be held on the same day. 

The 10 seats in the Upper House of Parliament are falling vacant in July and August, including those held by



External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O'Brien. Jaishankar, Dinesh Jemalbhai Anavadia and Lokhandwala Jugal Singh Mathurji are the three BJP MPs from Gujarat whose terms are ending on August 18.

TMC MPs O'Brien, Dola Sen, Sushmita Dev, Shanta Chhetri and Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Congress member Pradip Bhattacharya are retiring from West Bengal on August 18. One seat from Goa will also go to the polls as the term of the BJP MP Vinay D Tendulkar will end on July 28. 

According to a statement issued by the EC, the 10 members are retiring between July 28 and August 18 on the completion of their six-year term in the Upper House.