The Election Commission on Monday announced that elections to fill four vacant Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir will be held on October 24. The seats have remained vacant for over four years due to the absence of an elected Assembly in the Union Territory.

The Union Law and Justice Ministry in August turned down a proposal from the poll body to stagger the terms of the four seats, which currently fall vacant together, according to a report by the Indian Express from earlier this year.

The EC had sought a presidential order to ensure that one-third of the seats would retire every two years, in line with the Rajya Sabha’s structure. However, the ministry said on August 22 that there was no provision in law to allow such an order.

The four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir remained vacant during the recently-held vice presidential election.

Source: News18