The Chief Election Commissioner Dr Nasim Zaidi. PTI Photo.
The Election Commission on Monday put off the Rajya Sabha elections for 10 seats in Goa, Gujarat and West Bengal scheduled for June 8.
“The commission will announce the programme for holding biennial election to the Council of States from Goa, Gujarat and West Bengal in due course,” an official statement read.
According to EC sources, the conduct of the presidential elections may coincide with the schedule of the Rajya Sabha elections.
The secretaries of Legislative Assemblies, who are the returning officers for the Rajya Sabha elections, are also appointed as assistant returning officers for the presidential elections. Also, sources said that the biennial election process clashed with the EVM challenge annouced by the commission from June 3.
“This (RS elections) will divert attention of some of the parties who may like to participate in the challenge,” EC sources said.
According to rules, the Election Commission can announce the presidential elections any day after May 25.
President Pranab Mukherjee’s term will end on July 25. In 2012, the commission had announced the presidential elections on June 12 and the elections were held on July 19.
The retiring members of the Rajya Sabha are Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), Derek O’brien, Ahmed Patel, Smriti Irani, Shantaram Naik, Dilip Pandya and Debabrata.