Delhi, 18 June (H.S.): Voting began on Thursday for elections to three Rajya Sabha seats—two in Jharkhand and one in Mizoram—while 24 candidates from various states have already been elected unopposed in the biennial polls to the Upper House.

Polling commenced at 9 a.m. and will continue till 4 p.m., with counting scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

In Jharkhand, three candidates are contesting for two seats. They include BJP-backed Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani, JMM nominee Baidyanath Ram and Congress candidate Pranav Jha. While Ram is expected to secure one seat comfortably, the contest for the second seat is being closely watched amid concerns over possible cross-voting.

The ruling INDIA bloc has a numerical advantage in the 81-member Assembly, while the BJP-led NDA is backing Nathwani for the second seat. Both camps have held meetings with their legislators ahead of the polling.

In Mizoram, the ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) has fielded K. Laltluangkima for the lone Rajya Sabha seat, while the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) has nominated Zothansangi Hmar. The BJP and Congress have decided to abstain from voting.

The Election Commission had notified elections to 27 Rajya Sabha seats on June 1, including 24 vacancies arising from retirements and three by-elections. As the number of valid candidates matched the number of vacancies in several states, 24 candidates were declared elected unopposed.

Among those elected unopposed are Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Pawan Khera and BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar