In the ongoing Rajya Sabha Election results for 2024, significant developments have unfolded, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Himachal Pradesh. The electoral process for the 15 Rajya Sabha seats took place on Tuesday, with voting starting at 9 am and counting commencing at 5 pm. Out of the 56 contested seats, 41 members have secured their positions unopposed, including prominent figures like former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, BJP chief JP Nadda, Ashok Chavan, and union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and L Murugan.
Rajya Sabha Members serve a six-year term, with elections occurring every two years for 33 percent of the seats, totaling 245 members presently.
The focus now shifts to the remaining seats, with ongoing voting in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Himachal Pradesh. In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has nominated eight candidates, with the Samajwadi Party presenting three for the ten Rajya Sabha seats. While seven seats seemed secure without opposition, the inclusion of Sanjay Seth has introduced the potential for a competitive contest, requiring approximately 37 first-preference votes for a candidate to secure a seat.
Karnataka witnesses a biennial election to fill four vacancies, prompting the Congress to accommodate all its MLAs in a hotel. Five candidates, including Ajay Maken, Syed Naseer Hussain, and GC Chandrasekhar from Congress, Narayana Bandage from BJP, and Kupendra Reddy from JD(S), are vying for these seats. Whips issued by all parties have raised concerns about potential cross-voting.
In Himachal Pradesh, the Congress has directed its MLAs to support Abhishek Manu Singhvi, drawing criticism from the BJP, which argues for legislators’ freedom to vote according to their preferences. Amid the Himachal counting, six Congress and three independent MLAs have arrived in Haryana, adding an interesting dimension to the unfolding political scenario. Results for the remaining seats are expected later in the day, shaping the composition of the Rajya Sabha for the coming years.