New Delhi, June 2 -- The Election Commission of India (ECI) has commenced the nomination process for elections to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and State Legislative Councils in several states. The elections cover 27 Rajya Sabha seats, including both biennial and bye-elections, as well as elections to Legislative Councils in Bihar and Karnataka.

According to the ECI, the Rajya Sabha elections include 24 seats falling vacant through biennial retirement of members from ten states-Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Mizoram. In addition, bye-elections will be held for one seat each in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Odisha, taking the total number of Rajya Sab...