The elections to 16 seats in Rajya Sabha from three states, including four from J-K, will be held on November 18, Election Commission said tonight.Biennial elections would be held for 10 seats in UP and one in Uttaranchal. By-elections to the Rajya Sabha seat vacated by T.N. Chaturvedi on August 20 following his appointment as Karnataka Governor would also be held on November 18, the EC said.Maintaining the J-K Assembly was duly constituted on October 13, the EC, quoting a Supreme Court judgment, observed that MLAs once elected could vote in the Rajya Sabha polls even if they had not formally taken oath as members.The retiring members from J-K are Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kushok Nawang Chamba Stanzin, Shariefuddin Shariq and Mirza Abdul Rashid.Members retiring from UP are Amar Singh, Rajnath Singh, Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, Sunil Shastri, Akhilesh Das, R.N. Arya, Gandhi Azam, Shyam Lal and Devi Prasad Singh. The seat falling vacant with death of Narendra Mohan would also be filled as also the lone seat in Uttaranchal vacated by Manohar Kant Dhyani.The EC has also decided to fill a vacancy in the Uttar Pradesh legislative council caused by the death of Masood Khan on the same poll schedule.While the notifications would be issued on November 1, the last date for nominations will be on November 8 and the scrutiny the following day. The last date of withdrawal of candidatures will be on November 11.Counting of votes would take place shortly after close of polling on November 18, the EC said.
