#Elections

South Sudan's Leader Stresses on Holding Elections as Scheduled
#Elections

TMC Denounces CBI Raids on Mohua Moitra as Political Vendetta
#Elections

Congress Reveals Candidates for Eight Lok Sabha Seats in West Bengal
#Elections

Maldives Election Ballot Boxes Are Safeguarded In India - Here's Why
#Elections

Iran Elections 2024 Highlights: First Vote Since 2022 Nationwide Protests
#Elections

Pakistan Election 2024 Highlights: Imran Khan's PTI Faces Rigging Allegations, 'Audio Leaks' Unveiled

Rajya Sabha Election 2020 updates: BJP bags 8 seats, Congress 4

By Anuj Cariappa

| Updated: Friday, June 19, 2020, 23:35 [IST]

New Delhi, June 19: The Bharatiya Janata arty has won eight of the 19 Rajya Sabha seats up for vote in the biennial election held in eight states on Friday. The Congress has won four.

The BJP bagged three seats in Gujarat, two in Madhya Pradesh and one in Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Manipur each. The Congress, meanwhile, took home two seats in Rajasthan and one in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat each.

Rajya Sabha Election 2020: Polling for 19 seats today, close contest likely in Gujarat, MP, Raj

Stay tuned for all the LIVE updates:

Newest First Oldest First

11:19 PM, 19 Jun

The BJP wins three Rajya Sabha seats in Gujarat, while the Congress wins one. Abhay Bharadwaj, Ramila Bara and Narhari Amin won from the BJP. From the Congress, Shaktisinh Gohil won.

10:19 PM, 19 Jun

The issues raised by the Gujarat Congress before the Election Commission have been dismissed on the grounds of not having merit. Counting of votes has now begin.

8:43 PM, 19 Jun

Mizo National Front candidate K Vanlalvena elected to the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Mizoram in a triangular contest after polling was held today.

8:23 PM, 19 Jun

Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani said the Congress has sought cancellation of votes cast by BJP MLA Kesrisinh Solanki and minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama.

8:23 PM, 19 Jun

Counting of votes for four Rajya Sabha seats in Gujarat was delayed on Friday as the Congress demanded that the Election Commission invalidate two BJP votes on different grounds.

7:31 PM, 19 Jun

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) President Shibu Soren and BJP state President Deepak Prakash were sent to sent to the Upper House from Jharkhand after Rajya Sabha polls were held on Friday.

7:28 PM, 19 Jun

Veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh and BJP candidates Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sumer Singh Solanki on Friday won Rajya Sabha election from Madhya Pradesh

6:47 PM, 19 Jun

Congress wins 2 seats from Rajasthan in Rajya Sabha elections, while BJP has won 1 seat.

6:47 PM, 19 Jun

Rajya Sabha Elections: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wins 2 seats from Madhya Pradesh and Congress has won 1 seat.

6:33 PM, 19 Jun

The YSRCP wins all four Rajya Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh.

6:26 PM, 19 Jun

I returned to India y'day & before coming here I took a COVID test. As an MLA, it was my duty to vote & I cast my vote in a separate enclosure. Today, I took a COVID-19 test, its result is negative. Opposition has no issue so they're making this an issue: Cong MLA Wajib Ali

6:26 PM, 19 Jun

BJP MLA Ramlal Sharma writes to Returning Officer demanding criminal case against Cong MLA Wajib Ali (in PPE kit) for violating COVID19 quarantine norms & casting his vote in today's Rajya Sabha elections after his recent return from Australia on a repatriation flight.

6:25 PM, 19 Jun

Four invalid votes were identified in during counting in Andhra Pradesh.

6:25 PM, 19 Jun

National People's Party candidate WR Kharlukhi wins Rajya Sabha seat from Meghalaya.

6:24 PM, 19 Jun

The lone BJP MLA in Mizoram did not vote in the elections for the single Rajya Sabha seat.

6:24 PM, 19 Jun

The BJP wins the Rajya Sabha seat from Manipur.

5:50 PM, 19 Jun

The Congress has nominated K C Venugopal and Neeraj Dangi for the polls, while the BJP has fielded Rajendra Gehlot and Onkar Singh Lakhawat.

5:50 PM, 19 Jun

The polling for three Rajya Sabha seats in the state started at 9 am and got over at 4 pm.

5:50 PM, 19 Jun

Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot claimed that efforts were made to "create confusion" and spread rumour, but the candidates nominated by the AICC are going to win. "Both of our party candidates are going to win and I want to wish them in advance for their victory," he said.

5:49 PM, 19 Jun

The ruling Congress in Rajasthan on Friday expressed confidence that the party will win the Rajya Sabha polls.

5:44 PM, 19 Jun

Gujarat deputy chief minister Nitin Patel on Friday expressed confidence in all three BJP candidates in Gujarat.

3:01 PM, 19 Jun

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot cast his vote for Rajya Sabha Election, at the state Assembly in Jaipur earlier today.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot cast his vote for #RajyaSabhaElection, at the state Assembly in Jaipur earlier today. https://t.co/f24fl6FJMx pic.twitter.com/EgtCcFgBPY
— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2020

2:59 PM, 19 Jun

Amaravati: TDP leader and former Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu casts his vote for Rajya Sabha elections. There are four Rajya Sabha seats in the state.

Amaravati: TDP leader and former Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu casts his vote for Rajya Sabha elections. There are four Rajya Sabha seats in the state. pic.twitter.com/9tupJnqRTF
— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2020

2:38 PM, 19 Jun

Voting for three vacant Rajya Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh concluded on Friday afternoon after all the 206 MLAs, including a Congress legislator who has tested COVID-19 positive, cast their votes.

1:44 PM, 19 Jun

Madhya Pradesh Assembly sanitised

Madhya Pradesh: State legislative assembly premises in Bhopal being sanitised after Congress MLA, who had tested positive for #COVID19 and had come here to cast his vote, left. Voting is currently underway for three Rajya Sabha seats of the state. #RajyaSabhaElection pic.twitter.com/pQhI4GUk1v
— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2020

1:22 PM, 19 Jun

Madhya Pradesh: A Congress MLA who had tested positive for COVID19, arrives at the state legislative assembly in Bhopal to cast his vote. Voting is currently underway for three Rajya Sabha seats of the state.

Madhya Pradesh: A Congress MLA who had tested positive for #COVID19, arrives at the state legislative assembly in Bhopal to cast his vote. Voting is currently underway for three Rajya Sabha seats of the state. #RajyaSabhaElection pic.twitter.com/P8wltUu8fT
— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2020

1:22 PM, 19 Jun

MLAs of Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) are united & we are very sure to win lone Rajya Sabha seat: Meghalaya CM & National People's Party (NPP) Chief Conrad K Sangma after casting his vote at state Assembly. MDA has fielded NPP leader WR Kharlukhi as its candidate.

MLAs of Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) are united & we are very sure to win lone Rajya Sabha seat: Meghalaya CM & National People's Party (NPP) Chief Conrad K Sangma after casting his vote at state Assembly.

MDA has fielded NPP leader WR Kharlukhi as its candidate. https://t.co/xEV3CBYlR5 pic.twitter.com/nTEtM1A9xH
— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2020

1:22 PM, 19 Jun

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh arrives at the state Assembly to cast his vote for one seat of Rajya Sabha.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh arrives at the state Assembly to cast his vote for one seat of Rajya Sabha. pic.twitter.com/1n1vz4Gf2d
— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2020

11:52 AM, 19 Jun

Both BJP and Congress are hopeful of getting those two crucial votes of the BTP. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said, "The BJP and its governments have done numerous things for the welfare of tribals.

11:52 AM, 19 Jun

"We will not give our votes unless and until we get a written assurance. We are an independent party, which keeps distance from both the BJP and the Congress," Mahesh Vasava told reporters. "My father and I have decided not to cast our votes until we get an assurance about the implementation of schedule 5 of the Constitution and PESA Act. Although our votes are important, people whom we represent are more important to us," he added. PESA Act refers to the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act. "Despite repeated representation to both the parties in the past, they did nothing for the welfare of ST, SC, OBC, minority and migrant workers," he alleged. "We will think about voting only after getting an assurance," Vasava said.

12:56 AM, 19 Jun

The stage is set for election to 18 Rajya Sabha seats on June 19. The 18 seats are spread across seven states — four each in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, three each in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, two in Jharkhand and one each in Manipur and Meghalaya.

12:56 AM, 19 Jun

The polling will begin at 9 am and conclude at 4 pm. The counting of the votes will be done on the same day at 5 pm.

12:56 AM, 19 Jun

Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are likely to see a close contest as the two parties — BJP and Congress are engaged in a fierce battle to win maximum seats.

12:56 AM, 19 Jun

Voting for 18 seats were deferred due to the coronavirus pandemic. Later the Election Commission announced polls for fours seats in Karnataka and one seat each in Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.

12:57 AM, 19 Jun

Of the 19 seats where polling will be held, four each are from Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, three each from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, two from Jharkhand, and one each from Manipur, Mizoram and Meghalaya.

12:57 AM, 19 Jun

The election in Manipur is also likely to be interesting following the resignation of nine members of the ruling coalition and the opposition Congress pressing for a no-confidence motion against the N Biren Singh government. The BJP has fielded Leisemba Sanajaoba, the titular king of Manipur, while the Congress nominee is T Mangi Babu.

12:57 AM, 19 Jun

In Karnataka, where elections were to be held for four seats, all the candidates -- former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, BJP candidates Iranna Kadadi and Ashok Gasti -- have been declared elected unopposed.

12:57 AM, 19 Jun

The counting of votes for all the 19 seats will be held on the evening of June 19 itself, the Election Commission said. Legislators vote to elect candidates for the Upper House of Parliament.

12:58 AM, 19 Jun

The Election Commission (EC) has made elaborate arrangements for the voting keeping in mind the coronavirus pandemic. Every voter (MLA) will be screened for body temperature and will have use mask and adhere to social distancing norms.

8:01 AM, 19 Jun

Seats at stake: Andhra Pradesh-4 Gujarat-4 Jharkhand-2 Rajasthan-3 Madhya Pradesh-3 Manipur-1 Meghalaya-1 Mizoram-1

8:01 AM, 19 Jun

92 MLAs to have breakfast with Kamal Nath. They will reach at 9 am and will depart along with Nath.

8:02 AM, 19 Jun

The contest in Gujarat is a close one as both the BJP and Congress do not have the absolute numbers in the assembly to get all their candidates to win on their own. The BJP has fielded 3 candidates for the four seats, while the Congress has fielded two. The BJP can win two and the Congress 1. There will a tough fight for the fourth seat.

8:45 AM, 19 Jun

The YSR Congress is set to win all seats in AP. The TDP with 20 of the 23 MLAs remaining stands no chance to win the lone seat it is contesting.

8:46 AM, 19 Jun

In Rajasthan the Congress is set to ensure the victory of both its candidates. It may be recalled that both the BJP and Congress had whisked away its legislators to resorts amidst allegations of poaching.

9:21 AM, 19 Jun

The Rajasthan BJP MLAs were ferried to the state legislative assembly in Jaipur in three buses. Three Upper House seats are up for grabs. The Congress has fielded KC Venugopal and Neeraj Dangi while BJP's Rajendra Gehlot and Onkar Singh Lakhawat have filed the nomination papers.

9:26 AM, 19 Jun

The Gujarat government has issued Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the MLAs who were hospitalised for testing positive for Covid-19. Two separate waiting halls have been finalised in the state Assembly building.

9:26 AM, 19 Jun

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan cast his vote in Bhopal.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan cast his vote for #RajyaSabhaElection at the state Assembly in Bhopal. pic.twitter.com/BB2l5tYGcF
— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2020

9:27 AM, 19 Jun

Madhya Pradesh: Buses carrying Congress MLAs, leave from party leader Kamal Nath's residence, for the state legislative assembly in Bhopal ahead of Rajya Sabha Election today.

Madhya Pradesh: Buses carrying Congress MLAs, leave from party leader Kamal Nath's residence, for the state legislative assembly in Bhopal ahead of #RajyaSabhaElection today. Voting to be held for three Rajya Sabha seats of the state today. pic.twitter.com/kUyl8R1Tjb
— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2020

9:27 AM, 19 Jun

Rajasthan: Three buses, carrying BJP MLAs, reach state legislative assembly in Jaipur

Rajasthan: Three buses, carrying BJP MLAs, reach state legislative assembly in Jaipur ahead of the polling for #RajyaSabhaElection today. In the state, polling for three seats to be held. pic.twitter.com/1lyvD51Bbt
— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2020

10:11 AM, 19 Jun

It is very clear that we will win one seat in the Rajya Sabha Election: Former Chief Minister & Congress leader Kamal Nath after casting his vote at the state Assembly in Bhopal.

10:11 AM, 19 Jun

Gujarat: BJP MLA from Matar assembly constituency, Kesarisinh Jesangbhai Solanki arrives at legislative assembly in an ambulance. He was admitted at hospital following a health issue & reached here directly from the hospital. Polling for 4 Rajya Sabha seats of state is underway.

Gujarat: BJP MLA from Matar assembly constituency, Kesarisinh Jesangbhai Solanki arrives at legislative assembly in an ambulance. He was admitted at hospital following a health issue & reached here directly from the hospital. Polling for 4 Rajya Sabha seats of state is underway. pic.twitter.com/bhq1sNiXCB
— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2020

10:12 AM, 19 Jun

Independent MLAs Saryu Rai&Amit Yadav have extended their support to BJP&we hope to get the support of 2 other MLAs. With 32 votes, we hope to sent Deepak Prakash to Rajya Sabha: BJP MLA Biranchi Narayan

10:49 AM, 19 Jun

Meghalaya: Voting is underway for one seat of Rajya Sabha, at the state Assembly in Shillong.

Meghalaya: Voting is underway for one seat of Rajya Sabha, at the state Assembly in Shillong. pic.twitter.com/t3WCoHRfYt
— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2020

11:03 AM, 19 Jun

Voting is underway for two Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand, where three candidates are in the fray, including ruling JMM founder and former chief minister Shibu Soren. Congress leader Shahzada Anwar and BJP state chief Deepak Prakash are the two other candidates. Polling began at 9 am and will continue till 4 pm, amid elaborate safety arrangements in place in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, assembly officials said.

11:07 AM, 19 Jun

The state to watch out in today Rajya Sabha elections is Gujarat. There are four seats each in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, three each in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. In Mizoram, Meghalaya and Manipur there is one seat each.

11:43 AM, 19 Jun

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy cast his vote for in Amaravati.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy cast his vote for the #RajyaSabhaElection, at state Assembly in Amaravati.

Voting is underway for four Rajya Sabha seats of the state. pic.twitter.com/UanV4yE9mt
— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2020

11:51 AM, 19 Jun

Just before the polling for four Rajya Seats in Gujarat began on Friday morning, two Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) MLAs said that they would not cast their votes until they are given a written assurance about the welfare of tribals, migrants and Dalits. Votes of BTP chief Chhotu Vasava and his son Mahesh Vasava are crucial for both the BJP and the Congress in this election.

11:52 AM, 19 Jun

1:22 PM, 19 Jun

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh arrives at the state Assembly to cast his vote for one seat of Rajya Sabha.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh arrives at the state Assembly to cast his vote for one seat of Rajya Sabha. pic.twitter.com/1n1vz4Gf2d
— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2020