Rajya Sabha Elections
Article 80(4) and the Single Transferable Vote System
Article 80(4) of the Constitution provides that representatives of each state in the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) shall be elected by the elected members of the legislative assembly of that state in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV). This indirect election mechanism makes Rajya Sabha members accountable to state legislatures rather than directly to citizens. The number of Rajya Sabha seats allocated to each state is based broadly on population (Fourth Schedule to the Constitution).
- Electors: only elected members of the State Legislative Assembly (MLAs) — nominated members and MLC/Legislative Council members do not vote for Rajya Sabha.
- Quota formula: [Total valid MLA votes ÷ (Seats to be filled + 1)] + 1 (rounded up) — ensures proportional allocation.
- Open ballot system introduced by Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 2003: MLAs must show their ballot paper to the authorised agent of their party before depositing — designed to prevent secret cross-voting.
- Rajya Sabha is a permanent house (never dissolved); one-third of its 245 members retire every two years.
● Tracked since March 15, 2026 · last seen June 12, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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