The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that elections for 12 vacant Rajya Sabha seats will be held on September 3. The last date for filing nominations is August 21, with the scrutiny of nominations scheduled for August 22.

 

Candidates from Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tripura have until August 26 to withdraw their nominations, while those from Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Odisha have until August 27. Polling will take place on September 3 from 9 AM to 4 PM, with the counting of votes commencing at 5 PM on the same day.

 

The distribution of vacant seats is as follows: two in Assam, two in Bihar, one in Haryana, one in Madhya Pradesh, two in Maharashtra, one in Rajasthan, one in Tripura, one in Telangana, and one in Odisha.

 

Meanwhile, Mamata Mohanta, a member of the Kudumi tribal community from Mayurbhanj, resigned from both the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. 

 

Following her resignation, Mohanta joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), declaring her commitment to public service and welfare. “My only aim is the service and welfare of the public. It can be fulfilled only by joining the BJP,” she said.

 

(With ANI input)