A by-election to one Rajya Sabha seat from Tamil Nadu will be held on June 18 after former AIADMK minister C.V. Shanmugam resigned from the Upper House. The Election Commission has announced the schedule as part of polls for vacancies across multiple states.
According to the notification, nominations can be filed from June 1 to June 8. Scrutiny is scheduled for June 9, while June 11 is the last date for withdrawal. If more than one nomination is accepted, voting will take place on June 18 and the counting and result declaration will be completed the same day. The election process will conclude on June 20.
Shanmugam, who was a Rajya Sabha MP from the AIADMK, resigned after winning the Mayilam Assembly constituency in Villupuram district and becoming an MLA. The Election Commission also said a similar bypoll will be held in Maharashtra, where Sunetra Ajit Pawar resigned from the Rajya Sabha after becoming an MLA.
In Tamil Nadu, the ruling TVK-led alliance formed the government after winning 108 seats in its first Assembly election, with support from parties including the Congress, VCK and the Muslim League. After Chief Minister Vijay resigned as MLA from Tiruchirappalli East, the party’s strength stands at 107 MLAs.
With a win in a Rajya Sabha election requiring the support of 34 MLAs, TVK’s current numbers are expected to be sufficient for its candidate to secure the seat without relying on allies. The term of the member elected in this bypoll will run until June 29, 2028.
