The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday announced that bypolls to three Rajya Sabha seats from West Bengal will be held on July 24. The results will be declared on the same day after the counting of votes, according to an official statement.
Seats Vacant After TMC MPs Resignations
The three seats fell vacant after the resignations of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs – Dola Sen, Sushmita Dev, and Subrata Bakshi. Sen and Dev had resigned in May, while Bakshi resigned earlier this week, prompting the bypolls.
The ECI said that the notification for the bypolls will be issued on July 8, and the last date for filing nominations is July 15. Scrutiny of nominations will take place on July 16, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is July 18.
Polling and Counting on Same Day
Polling will be conducted from 9 am to 4 pm on July 24, and counting of votes will begin at 5 pm on the same day. The bypolls are crucial as the TMC currently holds a majority in the West Bengal assembly, which elects the Rajya Sabha members.
According to the ECI, the term of the three seats was originally scheduled to end in 2028. The bypolls will fill the vacancies for the remainder of the term.
The announcement comes ahead of the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, which is expected to begin in July. The new members will be able to participate in the session if elected.
In the 294-member West Bengal assembly, the TMC has 215 MLAs, followed by the BJP with 70, the Left Front with 2, the Congress with 1, and others with 6. The bypolls are expected to be a test of strength for the ruling party.
The ECI has urged political parties to follow the Model Code of Conduct during the bypoll process. The commission has also directed the state government to ensure adequate security arrangements.
