NEW DELHI: Election Commission today announced that the biennial election to the six Rajya Sabha seats from Andhra Pradesh would be held on June 14.
The term of six members of Rajya Sabha - V Hanumantha Rao, Girish Sanghi, JD Seelam, N Janardhan Reddy, Jairam Ramesh (All Congress) and P Madhu (CPM), is due to expire on June 21.
As per the schedule, the Election Commission would issue a notification on May 28 and the last date for filing nominations would be June 4. Scrutiny would take place on June 5 and last date for withdrawals would be June 7.
The polling would be held on June 14 and the counting of votes would take place on the same day in the evening.
With the Election Commission announcing the schedule for Rajya Sabha poll, the game of musical chairs began.
The number of aspirants crossed a dozen.
Going by the strength of Congress party in the Assembly, it would win four seats out of the six. All the outgoing members are keen to get renominated and therefore stepped up lobbying.
Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh is hopeful of renomination from the high command quota. Former chief minister N Janardhan Reddy is hoping for renomination since he became Rajya Sabha member for a short period. Former PCC president V Hanumantha Rao is depending on two factors - loyality and BC card. Similarly, JD Seelam is hoping for renomination. After missing the MLC seat recently, PCC president D Srinivas is also eyeing Rajya Sabha nomination. Chairman of Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams (TTD) Adikesavulu Naidu is also trying his luck since his Lok Sabha constituency has been reserved.
With the nomination of former Union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar to Rajya Sabha, many former MPs who lost in the last Lok Sabha elections are also in the race. Former Union minister Renuka Chowdhury and former special representative Mallu Ravi are also trying their chances.
Former Rajya Sabha member and owner of Deccan Chargers T Venkatrami Reddy is also in the race.