By-elections to 6 RS seats on July 5, counting same day

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 15

The Election Commission on Saturday announced the schedule for by elections for six vacancies in Rajya Sabha that arose after its occupants were elected into the 17th Lok Sabha.

The voting for the elections will take place on July 5. Votes will be counted on the same day.

Vacancies have arisen in Odisha (3), Gujarat (2) and Bihar (1).

In an official release, the commission cited regulations, procedure, and Supreme Court judgements to say that separate notifications would be issued for each vacancy and elections would be conducted separately.

The election is particularly significant for the Bharatiya Janata Party, whose two important leaders, Amit Shah and Smriti Irani, have been elected into Lok Sabha. Both Shah and Irani were representatives from Gujarat in the Upper House.