Rajya Sabha election to six Tamil Nadu seats on July 18

With the election commission on Tuesday announcing July 18 as the day of polling to elect six Rajya Sabha MPs from Tamil Nadu, negotiations in the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam over nominees are expected to pick pace.

The elections are being held to fill vacancies that will arise from the retirement of six MPs – four from the AIADMK and one each from the DMK and the Communist Party of India – on July 24.

The AIADMK and the DMK can both send three members each to the Upper House by virtue of their respective strength in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. The DMK and its allies, Congress and Indian Union Muslim League, have a strength of 108 MLAs (100+7+1). The AIADMK has 123 MLAs. A member needs 34 votes to get elected, as per the election commission formula.