ECI sets June 18 for Rajya Sabha bypolls in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday announced the schedule for bye-elections to two Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, with polling slated for June 18 following the resignation of sitting members from the two states.

In an official press note, the Commission said the vacancies were created after the resignations of Sunetra Ajit Pawar from Maharashtra on May 6 and C. Ve. Shanmugam from Tamil Nadu on May 7. The terms of both members were originally scheduled to continue until 2028.

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“The Commission has decided to hold bye-elections to the Council of States from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu to fill up the above-mentioned vacancies,” the Election Commission said in its notification issued from Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi.

The poll schedule released by the Commission stated that notifications for the elections will be issued on June 1, while June 8 has been fixed as the last date for filing nominations. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on June 9, and candidates may withdraw their nominations until June 11.

Voting, if necessary, will be held on June 18 between 9 am and 4 pm. Counting of votes will commence at 5 pm on the same day, and the election process is expected to conclude by June 20.

The ECI also reiterated strict voting guidelines for the Rajya Sabha polls, directing that only integrated violet-colour sketch pens supplied by the Returning Officer be used for marking preferences on ballot papers. “No other pen shall, under any circumstances, be used in the said elections,” the Commission stated.

The Commission added that observers would be appointed and adequate monitoring measures put in place to ensure that the elections are conducted in a free and fair manner.