Voting underway for Rajya Sabha elections in Jharkhand and Mizoram
Voting has begun for two Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand and one seat in Mizoram, with polling taking place in the respective state assembly premises under strict security arrangements, according to news agency PTI.
In Jharkhand, the three candidates contesting for the two seats are Parimal Nathwani, an Independent backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP); Baidyanath Ram of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM); and Pranav Jha of the Indian National Congress. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has 24 MLAs in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, short of the 28 first-preference votes required to win a seat. The opposition INDIA bloc, comprising JMM and Congress, holds 56 seats, giving it a comfortable majority to secure both seats.
In Mizoram, voting is taking place for one Rajya Sabha seat. The candidate from the ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) is expected to win given the party's majority in the 40-member state assembly. The opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) has also fielded a candidate.
The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of India's Parliament, and its members are elected by the elected members of state legislative assemblies using the single transferable vote system. Results for the elections are expected later today.
