Najma Heptulla resigned from the Rajya Sabha to take office as Manipur Governor in August. (File)
The process of filing nominations for the lone seat Rajya Sabha in Madhya Pradesh began today after Najma Heptulla vacated it following her appointment as Governor of Manipur.
The by-polls were necessitated after Ms Heptulla resigned from the Rajya Sabha on August 20 to take on the responsibilities of the governor's office. The term of her office would have otherwise ended on April 2, 2018.
Ms Heptulla, who was the Union Minority Affairs Minister, had resigned just days after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed his cabinet ministers in July. The 76-year-old Ms Heptulla was then announced as Governor of Manipur.
In a recent notification, the Election Commission said that the by-polls will be held on October 17. Principal Secretary of Vidhan Sabha, AP Singh has been nominated as the Returning Officer of the by-polls.
The process for filing nominations, which began today, will end on October 3. The scrutiny of nominations will be done on October 4, and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is October 6, according to the Election Commission.
Polling will take place from 9 am to 4 pm and counting will take place soon after, the Commission said.