<b>Periscope:</b> Grind begins for Prez election

In other news, SC will decide Advani's fate this week and the Indus Water Treaty will be discussed

Ahead of the election for President, all vacancies in the electoral college, which comprises members of legislative assemblies, legislative councils, and the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, have to be filled. Accordingly, the Election Commission has begun the process of doing so, resulting in a marathon round (another one) of by-elections.

Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Delhi will be holding elections for nine Assembly constituencies on April 9 and the counting will be on April 13. The last date of withdrawal of names of candidates is March 24. Three parliamentary constituencies, Malappuram (Kerala), Anantnag