Rajya Sabha Elections: Trinamool Likely To Retain Seats In West Bengal, BJP In Goa And Gujarat

The Election Commission has announced the upcoming elections for 10 Rajya Sabha seats from three states that will become vacant in July and August.

Among those completing their terms are External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien.

The polling date for these seats has been set for 24 July.

West Bengal accounts for six of these seats, with the Trinamool holding five and the Congress holding one. Based on the current composition of the West Bengal Assembly, it is likely that the Trinamool will retain the five seats.

O’Brien, Dola Sen, Sushmita Dev, Shanta Chhetri, and Sukhendu Sekhar Ray will complete their terms in July, while Congress member Pradip Bhattacharya's tenure will end in August. The BJP may secure this seat.

One seat previously held by the Trinamool became vacant after Congress rebel leader Luizinho Joaquim Faleiro resigned from both the party and the seat. A by-election for this seat will also be held on 24 July.

Among the BJP leaders completing their tenures are Vinay D Tendulkar from Goa, Jaishankar, Jugalsinh Lokhandwala, and Dineshchandra Anavadiya from Gujarat. It is expected that the BJP will successfully retain these seats.

As per the customary practice, the counting of votes will take place at 5 pm on 24 July itself, an hour after the conclusion of the polling process.