Live news updates: As party leaders kept an anxious watch, legislators of four states are voting to elect 16 MPs to the Rajya Sabha. The high-stakes race to the Upper House acquired urgency with the number of candidates exceeding the seats going to the polls in Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Polling started at 9 am and will continue till 4 pm. The votes will be counted at 5 pm.
Elections to 57 Rajya Sabha seats were announced recently. All 41 candidates in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Telangana, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand were declared elected unopposed last Friday.
The toughest fights are place in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Haryana where parties have sent their MLAs to resorts to prevent poaching.
 "Latest news LIVE: Rajya Sabha elections underway, tough fights in 4 states")
