Elections for 13 seats in Rajya Sabha on March 31
BJP is the single largest party in the 245-member House that presently has 237 members.
New Delhi: Elections for 13 Rajya Sabha seats will be held on March 31.
The Election Commission of India has issued a notification today, stated that elections will be held for 13 seats spread across six states. Five seats in Punjab, three in Kerala, Two seats in Assam, one each in Himachal Pradesh, Tripura and Nagaland.
The elections to the upper house are being held as several leaders like Anand Sharma, AK Antony, Partap Singh Bajwa, and Naresh Gujral are set to retire.
With the retirement of six Congress members, the strength of Congress in the Upper House decreased to 28 from 34 and that of the BJP’s from 97 to 92. BJP is the single largest party in the 245-member House that presently has 237 members.
Congress veterans Anand Sharma and A.K. Antony retired. Mr. Sharma returned to the Upper House most unlikely. Sharma’s term as a Rajya Sabha member is due to end on April 2. A former minister, he represents Himachal Pradesh.
The terms of his party colleagues, former defence minister A K Antony (Kerala), Partap Singh Bajwa, Shamsher Singh Dullo (Punjab), Ripun Bora, and Ranee Narah (Assam) are also ended.
