Election to 13 RS seats on March 21

Elections to 13 seats of the Rajya Sabha will be on March 21, to replace that many members whose term ends by April 9.

Five are from Punjab, three from Kerala, two from Assam and one each from Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Tripura. In addition, five nominated members of the Rajya Sabha will also retire by end-March. These were nominated by the earlier, Congress-led central government.

The sole seat from Nagaland became vacant with the death in November of sitting member Khekiho Zimomi. The election to that seat is being held with the others. Of the 13, five are currently with the Congress, two each with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiromani Akali Dal, and three with the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Of Punjab's five seats becoming vacant, two each belong to the Congress and Akalis; one is with the BJP. In Tripura, the seat falling vacant belongs to the CPI(M).

In Kerala, where three vacancies are being created, two belong to CPI (M) and one is of Congress' A K Antony. In Assam, both the seats falling vacant are now with the Congress. Himachal's is held by the BJP.Prominent members whose term ends, apart from Antony, are former law minister Ashwani Kumar, Akali senior Naresh Gujral and former chief election commissioner M S Gill.