Rajya Sabha poll schedule out, Congress to have no MP from Gujarat for first time

Gandhinagar: For the first time, the Congress party will not have a single Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat, as the term of lone Congress MP from the state, Shaktisinh Gohil, will end on June 21. The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday announced schedule of election for 24 seats, including four RS seats of Gujarat.According to the ECI poll schedule, a notification for the election will be issued on June 1, last date for filing nominations will be June 8, last date for withdrawal of nominations will be June 11. Voting will take place at the assembly complex in Gandhinagar from 9am to 4pm on June 18 and counting of votes will be taken up at 5pm.With an overwhelming majority in the Gujarat assembly, the BJP will easily win all the four seats that will be vacated. The saffron party has 162 MLAs in the 182-member house, with the Congress strength at 12, AAP at five, two independents and SP has one MLA.The other three sitting MPs from Gujarat whose 6-year term expires on June 21 are Narhari Amin, Ramila Bara and Ram Mokariya — all from the BJP.An official statement said on Friday that the office of the chief electoral officer (CEO) is geared up to hold the Rajya Sabha poll as per directions of the ECI.