The Election Commission has revealed that the elections for 12 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal will take place on October 16. This decision was made public on Tuesday, marking an important date in the political calendar of these states. The elections will involve ten seats from Uttar Pradesh, one from Uttarakhand, and a by-election for a seat in West Bengal.

The upcoming elections are necessitated by the conclusion of terms for sitting members, which will end on November 25. In West Bengal, a by-election is required due to the resignation of Rukmini Mallik, widely known as actor Koel Mallick. According to the announced schedule, the notification for the elections will be issued on September 29, and candidates may file their nominations until October 6. The counting of votes will occur on the same day as the elections.

Details of Expiring Terms and Key Figures

The elections will see the retirement of several notable members from Uttar Pradesh, including BJP leaders Arun Singh, Geeta Shakya, Neeraj Shekhar, Brijlal, BL Verma, Seema Dwivedi, and Hardeep Singh Puri. Additionally, Samajwadi Party’s Ram Gopal Yadav and BSP’s Ramji Gautam will also be stepping down. Notably, the seat previously held by former Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma has been vacant since September 11, following his appointment as lieutenant governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

In Uttarakhand, the Rajya Sabha seat is becoming vacant with the conclusion of BJP member Naresh Bansal’s term. Out of the ten outgoing seats in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP currently occupies eight, while the Samajwadi Party and BSP hold one each. This upcoming election comes ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections scheduled for next year, which adds significance to the Rajya Sabha polls.

Projections suggest that based on the current assembly dynamics, the BJP-led coalition is expected to secure eight seats, while the Samajwadi Party may gain two. This situation raises concerns for the BSP, which could end up without representation in the Rajya Sabha, given that it lacks sufficient numbers to retain Gautam’s position independently. The BSP’s representation in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly has diminished, as it no longer has any MLAs following the death of its sole legislator, Uma Shankar Singh, in August.

Implications of the Upcoming Elections

Historically, the BSP has struggled to maintain its influence in the Rajya Sabha. In 2020, the party did not have the requisite numbers to elect a member independently. During that election cycle, the BJP only nominated eight candidates for ten vacancies, which inadvertently allowed Gautam to be elected unopposed after another nominee’s rejection. This prompted allegations of a supposed collaboration between the BJP and BSP.

Looking ahead, the BJP is poised to maintain its seat in Uttarakhand comfortably. In West Bengal, the winner of the upcoming by-election will complete the term that extends until April 2, 2032. The ruling BJP has a solid majority in the West Bengal Assembly, indicating a strong likelihood of winning the contested seat against the Trinamool Congress.

In conclusion, the elections scheduled for October 16 will significantly impact the composition of the Rajya Sabha, especially with Uttar Pradesh contributing the majority of the vacancies. The outcomes will be closely watched as they may set the stage for future electoral strategies in the region.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share