Rajya Sabha elections: 10 things you need to know about today’s polls | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Rajya Sabha elections: 10 things you need to know about today’s polls

Hindustan Times | By, New Delhi
Jun 11, 2016 04:32 PM IST

Voting is being held on Saturday on 27 Rajya Sabha seats across seven states. Results will be announced on Saturday evening itself.

The ongoing Rajya Sabha elections is of paramount importance to both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress — while the Opposition is massively outnumbered in the Lok Sabha, the ruling party is in minority in the Upper House.

MLAs queue up in Madhya Pradesh assembly premises for voting in Rajya Sabha election in Bhopal on Saturday, June 11, 2016.(Praveen Bajpai / HT Photo)
MLAs queue up in Madhya Pradesh assembly premises for voting in Rajya Sabha election in Bhopal on Saturday, June 11, 2016.(Praveen Bajpai / HT Photo)

Any change in numbers in the Rajya Sabha will be a boost to the BJP, whose minority status in the Upper House has prevented it from pushing some key reforms such as the GST Bill.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Read | RS polls: Legislators clash in UP; BJP to complain against SP’s ‘terror tactics’

Here are 10 things you should know about the Rajya Sabha polls:

1.In this phase of polls, 58 vacancies fell vacant from 16 states. The BJP appears to be on solid ground in Gujarat and Haryana, but any additional seat for J Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK in Tamil Nadu will also be a positive for the ruling party as it expects Amma’s support on key issues.

2.Voting is being held on Saturday on only 27 seats across seven states. On the other 31 seats, candidates won unopposed on the last day of withdrawal of nominations for this biennial poll. P Chidambaram of Congress and railway minister Suresh Prabhu of the BJP are among those who won unopposed.

3.The results will be announced on Saturday evening. The polling started at 9 am will end at 4 pm, and the counting of votes will start from 5 pm.

4.The BJP is backing independent candidates in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana to stop Congress from winning additional seats.

5.This is the first time in the recent past that such a large number of independent candidates are in the fray, adding to the uncertainty in a usually predictable poll.

Read | Rajya Sabha elections: The rise of the independents

6.The BJP is expected to marginally gain over Congress. If a few independent candidates win, it will be a further blow to the beleaguered Congress. However, this will not change the saffron party’s minority status in the Upper House.

7.The biennial polls this year have been marred by allegations of cross-voting and horse-trading.

8.Uttar Pradesh has the most number of seats — 11 — and the last-minute entry of Preeti Mahapatra as the 12th candidate has made the contest interesting. Mahapatra is the wife of a Mumbai-based builder.

9.High-profile veterans in the fray include former law minister Kapil Sibal from Uttar Pradesh and former UPA ministers Jairam Ramesh and Oscar Fernandes.

10.The fight for the lone seat in Uttarakhand assumes significance as it may show Congress’ ability to keep its house in order after suffering a rebellion in the state. The wafer-thin majority of the ruling Congress in the hill state can come under pressure if the BJP is able to break its rival’s ranks and get its candidate a Rajya Sabha berth.

Read | RS elections: BJP tally may go up by 1 seat but minority status to remain

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Mukhtar Ansari Death News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On