India, June 18 -- All preparations have been completed to conduct the election to two Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand on Thursday, for which three candidates are in the fray, an official said.

The Opposition BJP-led NDA decided to support an Independent candidate, despite lacking the required number of MLAs in the Assembly. Three candidates - JMM's Baidyanath Ram, Congress's Pranav Jha and BJP-backed Independent nominee Parimal Nathwani - are contesting the polls for the two seats. The voting will take place between 9 am and 4 pm at a polling station set up within the Jharkhand Assembly premises.

"Once the polling is over, the report will be sent to the Election Commission of India. On the Commission's permission, the counting of votes w...