The Election Commission of India on Monday the 6th of July 2026 has announced bye-elections to three Rajya Sabha seats from West Bengal, vacancies created by recent resignations by Trinamool Congress MPs Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik.
The date of poll has been set for 24th of July 24.
According to the election schedule issued by the Commission, the notification for the by-polls will be issued on July 7, while the last date for filing nominations is July 14.
Scrutiny of nominations will be held on July 15, and candidates can withdraw their nominations until July 17.
Polling will take place on July 24 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., followed by counting of votes from 5 p.m. the same day. The entire election process will be completed by July 27.
If there are only three names for the by-poll, then after the time of scrutiny of papers on 15th of July and if the returning officer is satisfied with the order of nomination papers, then names of three RS MPs will be declared.
All the three TMC MPs from the Upper House after publicly questioning the party leadership over the outcome of the recent West Bengal Assembly elections.
The by-elections are expected to strengthen the BJP’s presence in the Rajya Sabha.
With the party securing a historic mandate in the Assembly elections and now enjoying the numbers required in the electoral college, it is widely expected to win all three seats, thereby increasing its strength in Parliament’s Upper House.
Explaining the conduct of the polls, the Election Commission said that each vacancy would be filled through a separate election even though all three contests would follow a common schedule.
“In terms of Section 147 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, read with Rule 75 and Rule 76 of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, every contest to fill a casual vacancy in the Council of States shall be held separately, and therefore, three separate elections are being conducted for the three vacancies,” the Commission said.
Members of the Rajya Sabha are elected indirectly by the elected members of the respective State Legislative Assemblies through the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.
When a seat falls vacant before the completion of its term owing to resignation, death or disqualification of a member, a by-election is held to fill the remainder of the term.
The outcome of the July 24 bypolls is expected to reflect the new political equations in West Bengal following the Assembly elections, with the BJP likely to translate its legislative majority into greater representation in the Rajya Sabha
