The Election Commission of India (ECI) has scheduled elections for 12 vacant seats in the Rajya Sabha on September 3. This decision marks a significant step in filling the seats that have recently become available across various states.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar extended a warm welcome to the 61 newly-elected and nominated members of the House during the commencement of its 264th session. He emphasised the importance of harnessing their potential to fulfil the aspirations of the people and urged collective efforts towards nurturing democracy.

Election Commission will now announce the fresh dates for election to fill these vacancies in the council of states. 

After Rajya Sabha MP Sameer Oraon was given a Lok Sabha ticket from Lohardaga seat, BJP made Pradeep Verma its candidate for Rajya Sabha.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar administered the oath in his chamber in Parliament House. Leader of the House Piyush Goyal was also present on the occasion.

The nomination process, which commenced on March 4, is set to conclude on March 11, with the deadline for withdrawal of candidature set for March 14. 

"We hope that the alliance will come up to the expectation of the people of Andhra Pradesh with their wholehearted support," BJP president J P Nadda, Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party's (JSP) Pawan Kalyan said in the joint statement. 

Verma will file his nomination on March 11.

"It came on Women's Day and that's a double surprise. I am very happy. I am grateful to our Prime Minister," Murty, who is currently on a visit to Thailand, stated. 

On Thursday, both Sarfaraz Ahmed, a former JMM MLA, and BJP's Harihar Mahapatra acquired the necessary forms to become candidates in the Rajya Sabha polls.

It is going to be a tight rope walk for the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu with a section of Congress reportedly not in a mood to reconcile easily.

Jolt to six rebel Congress MLAs, who cross voted in the Rajya Sabha poll and then defied the party whip for remaining absent from House when cut motions or Finance Bill was put to vote.