**Executive Summary**
This notification from the Election Commission of India announces a bye-election to fill a vacancy in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) from Maharashtra, caused by the resignation of Smt. Sunetra Ajit Pawar. The election process is scheduled to commence in early June, with a polling date set for June 18, 2026, if necessary. The entire election process must be completed by the final deadline of June 20, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Legal Basis and Vacancy**
* The bye-election is being conducted under Section 147, sub-section (1) of Section 39, and Section 56 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
* The seat became vacant on May 6, 2026, following the resignation of Smt. Sunetra Ajit Pawar, whose original term was set to expire on July 4, 2028.
**Election Schedule**
* **Last Date for Nominations:** June 8, 2026 (Monday).
* **Scrutiny of Nominations:** June 9, 2026 (Tuesday).
* **Last Date for Withdrawal of Candidatures:** June 11, 2026 (Thursday).
* **Date of Poll (if required):** June 18, 2026 (Thursday).
* **Final Date for Completion of Election:** June 20, 2026 (Saturday).
**Polling Procedures**
* If a poll is required, voting will take place between 09:00 AM and 04:00 PM on the specified date.
* The elected members of the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra are called upon to elect the new representative in accordance with established rules and orders.
**Impact Analysis**
**Elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of Maharashtra**
**Impact**
They serve as the electoral college responsible for filling the vacancy in the Council of States.
**Action Required**
Cast their votes to elect a new member before June 20, 2026, following the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
**Prospective Candidates and Political Parties**
**Impact**
They are subject to strict statutory timelines for participating in the bye-election.
**Action Required**
Ensure all nomination papers are filed by June 8, 2026, and manage any withdrawals of candidature by the June 11, 2026, deadline.
**Election Commission of India (ECI)**
**Impact**
The ECI is the regulatory body mandated to oversee the fairness and timely completion of the election.
**Action Required**
Conduct the scrutiny of nominations on June 9, 2026, and facilitate the polling and counting processes to ensure completion by June 20, 2026.
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission of India: The primary regulatory body responsible for conducting and overseeing the bye-election process to fill the vacant seat.
Representation of the People Act, 1951: The primary legislation (specifically Sections 147, 39, and 56) under which the bye-election is mandated and regulated.
Council of States (Rajya Sabha): The upper house of the Parliament of India for which the bye-election is being held to fill a casual vacancy.
Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra: The specific state legislative body whose elected members constitute the electoral college for this Rajya Sabha bye-election.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-01062026-273022
xxxGIDHxxx
CG-DL-E-01062026-273022
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (iii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (iii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 23] िई दिल्ली, सोमर्ार, ििू 1, 2026/ज्य ष्े ठ 11, 1948
No. 23] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2026/JYAISHTHA 11, 1948
भारत जिर्ाचा ि आयोग
अजधसचू िा
िई दिल्ली, 1 िूि, 2026
आ.अ. 23(अ).— यतः, महाराष्ट्र राज्य की जर्धाि सभा के जिर्ााजचत सिस्ट्यों द्वारा राज्य सभा म ें जिर्ााजचत श्रीमती
सुिेत्रा अिीत पर्ार का स्ट्थाि जििकी पिार्जध 04.07.2028 सजहत उस तारीख तक थी, के समाप्त होि े स े पूर् ा त्यागपत्र
िेिे के कारण 06.05.2026 से ररक्त हो गया ह;ै और
यतः, इस प्रकार हुई ररजक्त को भरि े के प्रयोिि से उप-जिर्ााचि करािा ह;ै अतः, अब लोक प्रजतजिजधत्र् अजधजियम
1951 (1951 का 43) की धारा 147, धारा 39 की उपधारा (1) और धारा 56 के अिुसरण में जिर्ााचि आयोग एतद्द्वारा-
(अ) महाराष्ट्र राज्य की जर्धाि सभा के जिर्ााजचत सिस्ट्यों स े यह अपेक्षा करता ह ै दक र्े 20 िूि, 2026 स े पूर्ा तथा
उक्त अजधजियम और तद्धीि बिाए गए जियमों और उिके तहत िारी दकए गए आििे ों के उपबन्धों के अिुसार राज्य सभा
म ें उक्त ररजक्त को भरि े के प्रयोिि स े एक व्यजक्त जिर्ााजचत कर ि।ें
(आ) उक्त जिर्ााचि के संबंध म:ें -
(क) िाम जििेजित करिे की अजन्तम तारीख – 08 िूि, 2026 (सोमर्ार);
(ख) िाम जििेिि की संर्ीक्षा की तारीख – 09 िूि, 2026 (मगं लर्ार);
(ग) अभ्यर्थता ाएं र्ापस लिे े की अजन्तम तारीख – 11 ििू , 2026 (गुरूर्ार);
3880 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(iii)]
(घ) र्ह तारीख जिसको यदि आर्श्यक हुआ तो मतिाि होगा – 18 िूि, 2026 (गुरूर्ार); और
(ड.) र्ह तारीख जिससे पूर् ाजिर्ााचि सम्पन्न करा जलया िाएगा – 20 िूि, 2026 (िजिर्ार); जियत करता ह;ै और
(इ) 09:00 बिे पूर्ााह्ि से 04:00 बिे अपराह्ि तक का समय उस समय के रूप में जियत करता ह ै जिसको, यदि
आर्श्यक हुआ तो, जर्जिर्िाष्ट तारीख को मतिाि होगा।
[फा. सं. 100/रा.स.-महाराष्ट्र/02/2026 (1)]
आिेि स,े
सुमि कुमार िास, सजचर्
ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 1st June, 2026
O.N. 23(E).—WHEREAS, the seat of Smt. Sunetra Ajit Pawar, in the Council of States, elected by the
elected members of the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra, has become vacant on 06.05.2026 by the reason of her
resignation, before the expiration of her term of office which was up to and including 04.07.2028; and
WHEREAS, a bye-election is to be held for the purpose of filling the vacancy so caused;
NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of Section 147, sub-section (1) of Section 39 and Section 56 of the
Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951), the Election Commission hereby-
(A) calls upon the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra to elect, before 20th June, 2026
and in accordance with the provisions of the said Act and of the rules and orders made thereunder, a person
for the purpose of filling the said vacancy in the Council of States;
(B) appoints, with respect to the said election;
(a) the 08th June, 2026 (Monday), as the last date for making nominations;
(b) the 09th June, 2026 (Tuesday), as the date for the scrutiny of the nominations;
(c) the 11th June, 2026 (Thursday), as the last date for the withdrawal of candidatures;
(d) the 18th June, 2026 (Thursday), as the date on which a poll shall, if necessary, be taken; and
(e) the 20th June, 2026 (Saturday), as the date before which the election shall be completed; and
(C) fixes the hours from 09:00 am to 04:00 pm, as the hours during which the poll shall, if necessary, be taken
on the date specified above for the election.
[F. No. 100/CS-MT/02/2026 (1)]
By Order,
SUMAN KUMAR DAS, Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.