Thiruvananthapuram: Biennial elections to Rajya Sabha for three seats from Kerala falling vacant next month would be held on April 20. The terms of Congress leader and former Union minister Vayalar Ravi, CPI (M) leader P Rajeev and CPI leader MP Achuthan, elected from Kerala, will expire on April 24, an official release said on Saturday.
Notification for the polls would be issued on March 30 and last date for filing nomination is April 6. Last date for withdrawal of candidates is April 9. The Election Commission which initially fixed the poll date on April 16, has changed it to April 20. This is following the request from CPI-M for a change of date as their MLAs would be busy with the Party Congress scheduled to be held in Visakahapathnam from April 14-19.
"Other stages of the election will remain unchanged and the Presidential notification calling the election will be issued on March 30 as scheduled earlier," the release said. As per the present strength in the Assembly, ruling Congress-led UDF could win two seats and CPI-M-headed LDF opposition one seat.
Congress in the state has renominated Ravi as the ruling UDF candidate while former students wing leader of CPI-M, KK Ragesh, will be the LDF candidate.
According to sources, the other one winnable seat of UDF, would be contested by Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second largest partner in the front.
IUML General Secretary KPA Majeed is likely to be the candidate, party sources said.
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