RS polls: BJP, Cong likely to get a seat each in Haryana

ELECTIONS FOR TWO UPPER HOUSE SEATS FROM THE STATE WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 26

CHANDIGARH: Election for the two Rajya Sabha seats from Haryana will be held on March 26, as per the poll schedule announced on Tuesday by the Election Commission.

The two seats have fallen vacant due to the resignation of BJP’s Ram Kumar Kashyap and expiry of the term of Congress MP Kumari Selja on April 9. Kashyap, who resigned last year from the Upper House to get a BJP ticket from Indri assembly constituency, is now a legislator.

Considering the number of assembly seats won by the ruling BJP (40) and the opposition Congress (31), the two would be easily able to elect one MP each on March 26.

Both the BJP and Congress would need 30 single transferable votes to elect an MP. While former union minister Birender Singh also resigned from Rajya Sabha this January, the term for his seat formally ends in August 2022 and will be considered for filling up in 2022. There are five Upper House seats from Haryana. As per the EC’s poll schedule, the notification will be issued on March 6 and the last date of filing nominations is March 13.

Scrutiny of nominations will be held on March 16 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is March 18. The polling and counting of votes will be March 26.

The EC has directed that for the purpose of marking preference on the ballot paper, only integrated violet colour sketch pens of pre-fixed specification, provided by the returning officer, will be used.