The Election Commission has deferred the Rajya Sabha polls scheduled for March 26 in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

Election to fill up 55 seats in the Upper House of Parliament, but 37 candidates have already been elected without a contest.

The decision on holding the election for the remaining 18 seats will be taken based on the prevailing situation.

As cases of the viral infection surged, authorities have put almost the entire country under lockdown, banning gathering of people and suspending road, rail and air traffic till March 31.