The Rajya Sabha Biennial elections in three states- Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka- are all set to take place today. Out of the total 56 Rajya Sabha seats going for polls today, candidates of 41 seats have already secured their seats unopposed in the Upper House due to lack of opposition, which left 15 seats obtainable across the three states mentioned above.

The 15 remaining seats include 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, four in Karnataka and one seat in Himachal Pradesh.

Voting is scheduled to take place in the Upper House between 9 am and 4pm while counting of votes will begin at 5 pm.

The term of office for 50 Rajya Sabha members from 13 states is set to conclude on April 2, while the remaining six members from two states are due to retire on April 3.

Fear Of Cross-Voting Prevails

The Rajya Sabha polls is taking place amid a cross-voting buzz with parties keeping a keen watch on its MLAs.

In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has fielded eight candidates while the Opposition Samajadi Party has fielded three candidates. However, in a bid to get deleted to Rajya Sabha, a candidate needs nearly 37 first preference votes in Uttar Pradesh

In Karnataka, five candidates including Ajay Maken, Syed Naseer Hussain and G C Chandrasekhar (all Congress), Narayansa Bandage (BJP) and Kupendra Reddy (JD(S)), are in the fray. Amid apprehensions of cross-voting, it has been reported that all the political parties have issued whips to the MLAs, who are the voters in Tuesday's poll.

Besides Karnataka, in Himachal Pradesh as well Congress has issued a whip to all its MLAs to vote for party candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, BJP termed it as an act to put pressure on the MLAs.

The Congress has a clear majority in Himachal Pradesh Rajya Sabha polls with 40 out of 68 MLAs and the support of three independent MLAs.

41 MPs Elected Unopposed To Rajya Sabha

41 members out of the 56 Rajya Sabha seats have already virtually secured their seats in the Upper House due to lack of opposition. However, the results are expected to be formally announced today.

BJP President JP Nadda, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradesh, Union IT Minister Ashwani Vaishnaw and former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi were the among the 41 candidates who won seats unopposed in the latest round.

From Madhya Pradesh, MoS Information and Broadcasting L Murugan was elected unopposed while from Rajasthan, former Congress President Sonia Gandhi was elected unopposed and so were BJP's Chunnilal Garasiya and Madan Rathore.

The list of the 41 MPs elected unopposed also includes Gujarat diamond merchant Govindbhai Dholakia, Jasvantsinh Parmar, OBC Morcha chief Mayank Nayak, TMC's Mamata Thakur, Sagarika Ghose, Sushmita Devi amongst others.

Commenting on the matter of the BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate complaining to EC regarding the whip issued by Congress, Himachal Pradesh minister Harsh Wardhan Chauhan said, " We have nothing to do with what Jairam Thakur says. This is BJP's frustration because the number of MLAs is not in favour of the BJP. 40 MLAs are with Congress and 3 are independent. BJP only has 25 MLAs. ...even without numbers, BJP is fielding their candidate, which means they're planning horse trading..."

Right ahead of today's Rajya Sabha biennial elections, Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav said, "We hope all three candidates of Samajwadi Party will win...BJP can use all the tactics to win elections. BJP will do everything possible for victory. Some of our leaders who want personal gains can go to the BJP."

A polling station in Bengaluru is all set for the day ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections in Karnataka today.

Polling in underway for 15 Rajya Sabha seats across Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka amid speculations on cross-voting. Voting started at 9 am and will continue till 4 pm. Vote counting is expected to begin at 5 pm.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was seen leaving the polling station in Lucknow after casting his vote for the Rajya Sabha elections. In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has fielded eight candidates while the Opposition Samajwadi Party fielded three candidates.

Exuding confidence, SP leader Shivpal Singh Yadav on Tuesday said, "Samajwadi Party is winning. If it (cross voting) happens, then we will also look into it."

Yadav's comments reportedly came in response to a media query on cross-voting for Rajya Sabha elections.

Amid the ongoing Rajya Sabha biennial election taking place across three states today, Samajwadi Party MLA and leader Manoj Kumar Pandey resigned from the post of Samajwadi Party Chief Whip.

On SP chief whip Manoj Kumar Pandey's resignation, UP Minister Dayashankar Singh said he has always been a supporter of 'Sanatana Dharma' and has always given statements regarding the same, adding that he is showing faith in PM Modi's leadership.

"Manoj Pandey has always been a supporter of Sanatana Dharma. He has always been giving statements regarding the same. He wanted everyone to visit Ayodhya and have a darshan. This is the reason he is showing faith in PM Modi's leadership and is taking such a decision...," he said.

LISTEN IN

Rubbishing the speculations over cross-voting during Rajya Sabha elections, Congress leader and Karnataka minister Ramalinga Reddy on Tuesday said, "All our three candidates will by clear majority. There will be no cross-voting. 3 Congress and 1 BJP candidate will be there. We have a clear majority. I don't know what Janardhana Reddy will do, he might support Congress."

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu casted his vote for the Rajya Sabha elections in Shimla.

Currently, polling is underway for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh. Acording to PTI, the polling was brisk and 64 out of the 68 members had cast their votes by 11 am.

Commenting on the probable results of the Rajya Sabha polls, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said today, "They (BJP) have also fielded candidate to win the elections, but for the 5th candidate they required 45 votes, do they have 45 votes? How will they win without numbers? Though they know that they don't have numbers they fielded Kupendra Reddy and they tried to poach our MLAs, that's why an FIR has been lodged against him. I'm sure all our 3 candidates are going to win."

The Congress, which is confident of winning three seats has fielded G C Chandrashekhar, Naseer Hussain and former union minister Ajay Maken. According to PTI, Congress sources claimed that the party has the support of four others.

The BJP has fielded Narayansa Bhandage as also JD(S) candidate D Kupendra Reddy as the NDA candidate which has made the election interesting.

On the Rajya Sabha biennial election for the remaining 15 seats, Samajwadi party leader Shahid Manzoor says, "This is the vote of counting and Maths. BJP is an expert in destroying Maths. The base voters of the Samajwadi party have not left... Our party (SP) is not breaking at all. Those who came and left later are something that does not concern me... Look at the base voters, they are still with us.."

Earlier, amid the circulating fear of cross-voting, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav also said those who are looking for "profit" in the situation will leave the party. When asked about the absence of some party MLAs from a party meeting on the polls called on Monday, Yadav said, "Those who wanted to profit from the situation will go. Those who were promised will go."

Amid floating speculations over cross-voting during the ongoing Rajya Sabha polls in Karnataka, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said, "Whatever will happen, it will happen. But, I am confident, as far as our alliance is concerned."

On Rajya Sabha elections, Karnataka JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy says, "Congress has been disturbing JD(S) MLAs everyday. Each day they have been saying that more than 12-13 JD(S) are ready to join Congress. To show our strength, we put forward a candidate in this election."

Amid the widespread speculation of cross-voting in Rajya Sabha elections, BJP Chief Whip in Karnataka Assembly, Doddanagouda G. Patil said that ST Somashekhar had cross-voted.

"It is confirmed that ST Somashekar has cross-voted. We are discussing what can be done and what action to be taken", Patil said.

General Secretary of Samajwadi Party Ram Gopal Yadav said party candidates have won, adding that it is "completely fine if someone is choosing to leave" the party.

His statement came after Samajwadi Party MLA Manoj Kumar Pandey on Tuesday resigned from the post of party chief whip a day after he skipped a meeting called by party chief Akhilesh Yadav on the Rajya Sabha elections.

"Our candidates have won, they have got 102 votes... It's completely fine if someone is choosing to leave our party," Ram Gopal Yadav said.

Polling for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh, which began at 9 am today, ended with Congress MLA from Chintpurni Sudershan Babloo casting the last vote. The polling was brisk and all 68 members voted. Independent MLA from Hamipur Ashish was the first to cast his vote.

Congress MLA Babloo was brought to the Assembly in a helicopter as he was unwell. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu after casting his vote said the MLAs have voted as per the ideology of the party.

"We have 40 MLAs in the Vidhan Sabha and unless MLAs are bought off, we will get all the votes," he said.

"...We issued Whip, but they didn't have the majority. We had to do the voting. In a way BJP has tried to threaten our leaders, Congress Party strongly condemns it," CM Sukhu said.

As many as 214 MLAs exercised their franchise till 1 pm in the Rajya Sabha election in Karnataka where four seats are vacant, Election Commission officials said.

The Congress has 133 MLAs, excluding the Speaker, while the BJP and JD(S) have 66 and 19 legislators respectively, in the 223-member House. Others account for four. However, one Congress MLA died on Sunday.

Voting began at 9 am today and will go on till 4 pm, while the counting will start from 5 pm. The MLAs will exercise their voting rights using an open ballot system. They have to display their voting preference to the nominated polling agents.

The Rajya Sabha seats fell vacant following the retirement of four members -- Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar (BJP) and Congress's G C Chandrashekhar, Syed Naseer Hussain and L Hanumanthaiah.

BJP MLA Neel Ratan Patel was seen arriving at the UP Assembly in an ambulance to cast his vote.

Voting for the Rajya Sabha elections is underway. In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has fielded eight candidates and the Samajwadi Party three.

Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said BJP candidate will win the Rajya Sabha election. Voting for the four Rajya Sabha seats are underway in Karnataka.

The Congress has 133 MLAs, the BJP has 66, JD (S) 19, while others account for four.

Of the four others, the Congress claims the support of two independents and Darshan Puttanaiah from Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha, and is confident of winning three seats. Interestingly, the fourth one - G Janardhana Reddy (of Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha) met the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday.

"In politics, you will always be blamed. I have been chosen by the people and I will always think about them," said Samajwadi Party MLA Manoj Kumar Pandey on resigning as chief whip of the party.

The voting for the Rajya Sabha elections is underway. In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has fielded eight candidates and the Samajwadi Party three.

Dissecting the voting pattern in the four Rajya Sabha seats of the state, Karnataka Deputy CM and Congress leader DK Shivakumar said that the alliance of BJP and JDS "cannot go well".

"This alliance can't go well, because even the BJP had 65-66 votes, they could have got their candidate elected with 45 votes, but they have taken 48 votes. This means that even BJP legislators are not interested to vote for JD(S)," Shivakumar said.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy stated on Tuesday that an FIR has been lodged against JD(S) leader D Kupendra Reddy and his associates at Bengaluru's Vidhana Soudha police station in connection with the Rajya Sabha elections, according to news agency PTI.

In addition, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also confirmed the filing of a formal complaint for allegedly "threatening" Congress MLAs.

As per reports, as many as nine MLAs - six of Congress and three Independents - have cross-voted in Himachal Pradesh.

In the state, where the Congress secured 40 out of 68 seats in the 2022 election and believed it had the backing of three independent lawmakers, its candidate Abhishek Singhvi is facing a potential surprise defeat. 

Despite having only 25 MLAs, the BJP seems to be gaining an advantage due to the cross-voting by six Congress leaders and all three independents.

UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak told news agency PTI, "All eight candidates of the BJP are winning. Let's wait for the results.”

The BJP has nominated eight candidates, while the opposition SP has put forward three candidates for the 10 Rajya Sabha seats.

Both parties have the required numbers to secure seven and three members in the Upper House of Parliament, respectively.

In a setback to the BJP-JD(S) coalition, BJP MLA ST Somashekar voted for the Congress in the Karnataka Rajya Sabha elections on Tuesday, according to news agency PTI.

"We have got the information that Somashekar has done cross-voting. I believe that people do not like cheating every now and then," the Leader of Opposition R Ashoka told reporters in Bengaluru.

"I consulted with advocate Vivek Reddy who is our state legal cell president and a high court lawyer. We will ask the Speaker to initiate against him (Somashekar) and explore the possibilities to take action in accordance with the law," he added.

According to sources, the counting of votes in Himachal Pradesh was temporarily halted after a complaint was filed by the BJP, as reported by The Economic Times.

In Karnataka, the Congress wins three seats while the BJP secures one.

All three Congress candidates, Ajay Maken, Dr Syed Naseer Hussain, and GC Chandrashekhar, clinched victories with 47, 46, and 46 votes respectively.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Tuesday that five to six Congress MLAs were "kidnapped" and taken away in a convoy of CRPF and Haryana Police, and that their families are trying to contact them, as reported by PTI.

The allegation was made hours after the polling for the lone Rajya Sabha seat ended, amid concerns in the ruling Congress over cross-voting.

The BJP is indulging in hooliganism which is not good for democracy, he told reporters.

BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan has won the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal Pradesh BJP leader and former CM Jairam Thakur said there was a tie between the Congress and BJP candidates and both received 34 votes. He said a tie-breaker was employed and the BJP candidate won by toss.

Himachal Pradesh LoP Jairam Thakur said, “We are rightly saying that looking at this victory, the Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhu should resign from his position. The MLAs have left him just within a year.”

Himachal Pradesh Congress Candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi thanked all the MLAs of Himachal “even those 9 MLAs who cross-voted.”

Speaking to the media, he said, “I would also like to thank the nine persons (MLAs) because they have taught me a lot about human nature, its fickleness or its resoluteness. They supped with us.”

“So, I think we are bad judges of human character, they are obviously better judges of human character."

Addressing a press conference in the state assembly premises, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said, “They were swearing loyalty to us till morning. Out of nine of them, 6 Congress MLAs cross-voted. They sold their integrity.”

Cross voting refers to the act of individuals from one political party casting their votes in favour of candidates or measures supported by another party. This deviation from party lines can result from a variety of factors, including personal convictions, constituency needs, or political alliances.

The BJP secures 8 out of 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, while the SP clinches 2 seats.

• In Karnataka, the counting of votes for four Rajya Sabha seats concluded with the Congress winning three seats. Ajay Maken, Nasser Hussain, and GC Chandrashekar emerged victorious for the Congress, while BJP candidate Narayansa Bhandage secured one seat.

• Moving to Himachal Pradesh, BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan emerged victorious in the lone Rajya Sabha seat, defeating the ruling Congress candidate, Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Notably, BJP secured the victory through a draw of lots after tying with Congress at 34 votes.

• In Uttar Pradesh, where polls were conducted for 10 seats, the BJP emerged triumphant by securing all eight seats it contested. Conversely, the Samajwadi Party won two out of three seats it contested.