Nomination process begins for Rajya Sabha polls

Srinagar, Oct 6: The nomination process for the Rajya Sabha polls from Jammu & Kashmir began on Monday, with the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Returning Officer issuing three separate notifications for the election to four seats that have remained vacant for more than four and a half years.
The poll body issued the notifications on Monday morning, announcing the schedule for the elections to the four seats. These notifications were issued following the President of India, through three separate notifications issued by Union Government, called the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir to elect members to the Upper House of Parliament.
Three separate elections are being held for the four seats. While two individual elections will be conducted for the first and second seats, a combined election will be held for the remaining two seats.
According to the notifications issued by the Election Commission of India, October 13 is the last date for filing nominations. Scrutiny of nominations will take place on October 14.
Candidates may withdraw their nomination forms until October 16. Polling will be held on October 24, and counting will take place on the same day. The entire election process will be completed by October 28.
Following the ECI’s notifications, the Returning Officer for the polls-the Secretary of the Legislative Assembly-also issued three separate notifications for the election to these seats.
As per the notifications, nomination papers can be submitted by a candidate or any of their proposers to the Returning Officer (Secretary, Legislative Assembly) or the Assistant Returning Officer (Additional Secretary, Legislative Assembly) at their offices within the premises of the J&K Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Srinagar, between 11 AM and 3 PM on any working day (excluding public holidays) no later than October 13.
As previously reported, the National Conference-Congress alliance is expected to comfortably secure three of the four seats, while the BJP is in a strong position to win the fourth. (KNO)