53 Elders retire from Rajya Sabha

Fifty-three Elders, including Union Ministers Venkaiah Naidu and Nirmala Sitaraman, would be retiring from the Rajya Sabha on Friday. The elections for the seats falling vacant will be held in June. The seats falling vacant include 11 from UP and six from Bihar and one from Karnataka. The latter is significant in that Vijay Mallya had held the seat before he had to hurriedly resigned from the Rajya Sabha over the huge bank loans he had enjoyed without paying back at the cost of the small savings of countless account holders. Also, Mallya resigned only at the fag-end of his term. To the other members, the Rajya Sabha bid good-bye on Friday. Chairman Ansari read out the parting message for the members. Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said on the occasion that while it was painful for the members, a politician never retired.