EC declares bypolls to seven Rajya Sabha seats in 6 states

The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday announced dates for bypolls to seven Rajya Sabha seats that have fallen vacant due to various reasons like resignations, death and end of tenure of members. According to a notification issued by the EC, there are two such seats in Tamil Nadu and one each in West Bengal, Assam, Maharashtra, Puducherry and Madhya Pradesh. The polls to all these seven seats will take place on October 4, the EC said. The EC said in its order that all "broad guidelines of Covid-19" have to be followed during the election process, that is from the time of issue of notification to the counting of votes.