The Kerala High Court has directed the Election Commission of India to hold the election to three Rajya Sabha seats from Kerala during the term of the present assembly.
The term of the three Rajya Sabha members – Vayalar Ravi, KK Ragesh and PV Abdul Wahab - will end on April 21. The HC stated that the election to the three seats should be held within May 2, the date of results of the recently held assembly elections. The single bench of Justice PV Asha declared that the sitting legislative assembly had the right to elect members to the seats falling vacant in the Rajya Sabha from the State. The court issued the order on the pleas filed by the CPM and the secretary of the Legislative Assembly. If the elections are held with the present legislators, the CPM could win two seats.
The Election Commission had earlier decided to hold the Rajya Sabha election on April 12. However on March 24, the EC informed that the date has been deferred. The HC asked the EC to explain the reasons for the postponement of elections.
