New Delhi: Amid the lockdown and measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday deferred the Rajya Sabha elections to 18 vacant seats, scheduled for Thursday (March 26).
The poll process would involve gathering of polling officials, agents of political parties, support officials and MLAs, and therefore, it may not be suitable in view of the prevailing unforeseen situation and related advisories in the country, the ECI said.
The 18 seats include four each in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, three each in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, two in Jharkhand and one each in Manipur and Meghalaya.
Nominations were filed for 55 Rajya Sabha seats in 17 states. Of these, 37 candidates were elected unopposed after the deadline for withdrawal of nomination ended on Wednesday.
