Rajya Sabha poll process begins in Uttar Pradesh

The electoral process for the Rajya Sabha polls for 10 seats from Uttar Pradesh has been initiated, officials said Tuesday.

As per the schedule, notification will be issued Nov 3, nominations can be submitted till Nov 10, and the last date of withdrawal is Nov 11. Voting will be held Nov 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Counting of votes will be held Nov 24.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer Rama Kant Pandey told IANS that the election schedule has been sent to concerned departments with directives to complete the process within the deadlines.

The poll was necessitated following the completion of term of 10 incumbent Rajya Sabha members. Of these, the maximum of six are from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), two from the Samajwadi Party (SP) and one from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while one is an independent.

Among those whose tenure is drawing to an end include Ram Gopal Yadav of the SP and Amar Singh who was expelled from the party. Sources said he is now engaged in backroom parleys with the SP national leadership for another stint in the upper house.