New Delhi: Voting for 58 vacancies from a total of 16 states for the Rajya Sabha election 2018, will take place in six states in the initial stage. The six states are Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. These states will elect 25 lawmakers to the upper house. And for the remaining states, 33 candidates have already been declared as unopposed. But in some other states, there is going to be a struggle for the contest due to the new political equations forming. The day for the voting is slated for Friday, March 23 and timing as 9 am to 4 pm.

Uttar Pradesh

There are a total 11 candidates for the 10 vacancies in Uttar Pradesh. For this the ruling BJP has put up nine candidates, which includes Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Jaya Bachchan is a candidate from Samajwadi Party ( SP) and Bhim Rao Ambedkar is for Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

The minimum requirement to win the Rajya Sabha election, the candidate needs to get 37 first preference votes. At present the BJP ruling party along with its allies have 324 lawmakers in the assembly, which conveys that BJP can easily win a total eight seats and will have 28 surplus votes.

West Bengal

The ruling Trinamool in West Bengal State has put up four nominees and they have got the numbers for the five vacant Rajya Sabha seats from there. They have also decided to support Abhishek Manu Singhvi of Congress Party. The Left has set up a contest in the Rajya Sabha election by fielding a candidate.

Karnataka

The ruling Congress has got 124 lawmakers and fielded 3 candidates, but has got the numbers required to get the two of them elected for the Rajya Sabha elections from Karnataka. A candidate requires at least 46 first preference votes. The BJP can send one candidate, that is, Rajiv Chandrasekhar, who has got nomination by the party. The Congress is thinking of to get support of rebel JD(S) lawmakers to get its third candidate elected for the fact that they have at least 32 surplus votes.

Jharkhand

There are two vacancies in Jharkhand State and the aspirants are three. The BJP has got 43 lawmakers and fielded two candidates. And it is campaigning against Congress that has got one candidate listed though it has just seven members in the assembly there. The party is considering to get the support of 19 JMM lawmakers besides other small parties.

Chhattisgarh

The State has only one and lone vacancy and BJP has got 49 lawmakers in the 90 member assembly which can defeat the Congress Party candidate in the coming Rajya Sabha election 2018.

Telangana

The Telugu State has got three seats, for which the ruling TRS has fielded three candidates. The Congress fielded one candidate. The TRS has the power to get two of its candidates elected for having enough numbers. And it may push its third candidate for election after the AIMIM announced its support for the party.