India, Sept. 23 -- The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced elections to 12 Rajya Sabha seats across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal on October 16. The polls will cover 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh, one in Uttarakhand and a bypoll to one seat in West Bengal. Based on the present assembly arithmetic, the BJP-led alliance is expected to win eight seats, while the Samajwadi Party is projected to secure two. The BJP's overall strength in the Rajya Sabha is likely to increase by one, with the party set to bag the lone seat in West Bengal.

The BJP had eight of the 10 outgoing Uttar Pradesh seats, while the Samajwadi Party and the BSP held one seat each. The results could leave the BSP without representation in the Ra...