The last date of filing nominations is September 22 while the last date for withdrawal is September 27

Bye-elections will be held to seven seats in the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) on October 4, the Election Commission of India announced on Thursday.

This includes six seats that are vacant at the moment and one seat from which a member is due to retire in October.

The six vacant seats in the Council of States from various States are as per details below:

West Bengal - Manas Ranjan Bhunia (Resignation)

Assam - Biswajeet Daimary (Resignation)

Tamil Nadu - KP Munuswamy and B Vaitrhikingam (Resignations)

Maharashtra - Rajeev Shankarrao Satav (Death)

Madhya Pradesh - Thaawarchand Gehlot (Resignation)

The Commission said it has decided to hold six bye-elections to the Council of States to fill up these vacancies.

The term of office of one member of the Council of States elected from the Union Territory of Puducherry, N Gokulakrishnan, is due to expire on his retirement on October 6.

Hence, biennial election will be held to the Council of States from Puducherry to fill up this vacancy.

According to the poll schedule, the last date of filing nominations will be September 22 while the last date for withdrawal is September 27.

Polling and counting will be on the same day, October 4.

Guidelines related to Covid appropriate behaviour will have to be followed during the entire election process, the ECI noted.