Page 180 - Leap of Faith inside pages with cover (1)

Leap of Faith Journey of Indian Elections

elec ons to 18 seats of Rajya Sabha from Andhra However, the need for an actual contest never arose, as all
Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, candidates were elected unopposed.
Meghalaya and Rajasthan under Sec on 153 of the
Representa on of the People Act, 1951. On June 1, 2020 the schedule for the pending elec ons to
Rajya Sabha seats was announced in view of fresh
It simultaneously deferred the elec ons to 09 (nine) seats in assessment of COVID situa on in those states.
Maharashtra Legisla ve Council scheduled to fall vacant by Simultaneously, no fica on was issued for elec ons to
April 24 due to re rement of those members. However, the six seats from Arunachal Pradesh (01), Karnataka (04)
Commission reviewed its posi on on May 1 in light of several and Mizoram (01). Thus on June 19, 2020 elec ons to 24
new facts (vide its Press Release ECI/PN/35/2020 dated May seats of Rajya Sabha took place in various states. Except
1, 2020). In order to comply with the Cons tu onal where the seats were won unopposed (like in Karnataka
requirements and a er the State's categorical assurance and Arunachal Pradesh) the members of relevant state's
with regard to the COVID situa on, the Elec on Commission legisla ve assemblies par cipated strictly following
decided to go ahead with the Maharashtra Legisla ve COVID protocol. This included area sani sa on, thermal
Council elec ons. The polls were scheduled for May 21, tes ng facility, wearing of masks, hand sani sa on and
2020 with all COVID-compliant prepara on in place. physical distancing etc.

COVID-safety measures including social distancing, sanitisation, etc. were strictly enforced during Rajya Sabha Election in Shillong, Meghalaya

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