Rajya Sabha elections underway in 4 NE states, tough fight in Manipur

Elections for four Rajya Sabha seats spread across four states in Northeast India are underway along with other elections in the other 20 seats today. The elections are being held for one seat each in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Manipur.

The other states, where elections are underway, are Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.

The election in Manipur is likely to be interesting following the resignation of nine members of the ruling coalition and the opposition Congress pressing for a no-confidence motion against the N Biren Singh government. The BJP has fielded Leisemba Sanajaoba while the Congress nominee is T Mangi Babu.

Also read: NPP-INC alliance to form Govt in Manipur after BJP loses fort

Meanwhile, the BJP nominee Nabam Rebia was also elected unopposed to the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Arunachal Pradesh. The Arunachal seat candidate will retire on June 25th, 2020.

The election to Mizoram's lone seat is likely to witness a triangular contest. The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) has fielded the party's national core committee member K Kanlalvena, while the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and the Congress nominated B Lalchhanzova and Lallianchhunga respectively. The Mizoram seat candidate will be retiring on July 18.

In the 40-member Mizoram Assembly, the MNF has 27 members, ZPM seven, Congress five and the BJP has one MLA.

It may be mentioned that voting for 18 seats were deferred due to the coronavirus pandemic. Later the Election Commission announced polls for four seats in Karnataka and one seat each in Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.

In Karnataka, all the candidates - former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, BJP candidates Iranna Kadadi and Ashok Gasti - have been declared elected unopposed.

Also read: BJP MLA resignations triggered others to quit in Manipur, says Conrad Sangma

The counting of votes for all the seats will be held on the evening of June 19^th, 2020 itself, the Election Commission said.

The Election Commission (EC) has made elaborate arrangements for the voting keeping in mind the coronavirus pandemic. Every voter (MLA) will be screened for body temperature and will have use mask and adhere to social distancing norms. Legislators having a fever or showing other symptoms will be kept in a separate waiting room.

It is pertinent to mention that the NDA has currently 91 of the 245 Rajya Sabha seats while the UPA has 61 and the other opposition and the non-aligned parties together have 68 seats.

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