Election Commission announces bypolls to six Rajya Sabha seats, including two in Gujarat, on 5 July

New Delhi: The Election Commission Saturday announced bypolls to six Rajya Sabha seats on 5 July, including the one vacated by BJP chief Amit Shah following his election to the Lok Sabha.

Notifications will be issued on 18 June and elections and counting of votes will be held on 5 July.

In a statement, the commission clarified that the vacancies for bypolls to all Houses, including the Rajya Sabha, are considered "separate vacancies" and separate notifications are issued and separate polls are held, though the schedule can be the same.

It cited two Delhi High Court rulings of 1994 and 2009 which had supported the system of holding separate bypolls in the same state under provisions of the Representation of the People Act.