**Executive Summary**
The Election Commission of India has issued a notification to conduct a bye-election for a vacant seat in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) representing Odisha. The vacancy arose following the resignation of Shri Debashish Samantaray on May 25, 2026. The election process is scheduled to commence in June 2026, with the final completion deadline set for June 20, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Vacancy Details**
* **Cause of Vacancy:** Resignation of Shri Debashish Samantaray before the expiration of his term (originally ending April 3, 2030).
* **Effective Date:** The seat became vacant on May 25, 2026.
* **Legal Framework:** The bye-election is conducted under Sections 147, 39(1), and 56 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
**Election Schedule**
* **Last Date for Nominations:** June 08, 2026 (Monday).
* **Scrutiny of Nominations:** June 09, 2026 (Tuesday).
* **Last Date for Withdrawal of Candidatures:** June 11, 2026 (Thursday).
* **Date of Poll:** June 18, 2026 (Thursday), if a poll is necessary.
* **Completion Deadline:** The election process must be completed by June 20, 2026 (Saturday).
**Poll Logistics**
* **Voting Hours:** If required, the poll will take place from 09:00 AM to 04:00 PM.
* **Electorate:** The elected members of the Legislative Assembly of Odisha are called upon to elect the representative.
**Impact Analysis**
**Elected Members of the Legislative Assembly of Odisha**
**Impact**
These members serve as the electorate for the bye-election and are responsible for filling the vacancy in the Council of States.
**Action Required**
They must elect a person to fill the vacancy before June 20, 2026, following the procedures laid out in the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
**Potential Candidates**
**Impact**
Individuals seeking to represent the State of Odisha in the Rajya Sabha are affected by the stipulated deadlines for the election process.
**Action Required**
Interested candidates must submit their nominations by June 08, 2026, and adhere to the schedule for scrutiny and withdrawal of candidatures.
**Election Commission of India / Regulatory Authorities**
**Impact**
The Commission is responsible for overseeing the statutory timelines and ensuring the poll is conducted within the fixed hours and dates.
**Action Required**
Ensure the scrutiny of nominations on June 09, 2026, and manage the polling and completion of the election by the June 20, 2026, deadline.
Key Entities Referenced
Representation of the People Act, 1951: The primary legal authority under which the bye-election is conducted and the notification is issued.
Election Commission of India: The constitutional body responsible for administering the election process and issuing this notification.
Council of States: The upper house of the Indian Parliament (Rajya Sabha) where the vacancy exists.
Legislative Assembly of Odisha: The specific state body whose elected members are authorized to vote in this bye-election.
Shri Debashish Samantaray: The individual whose resignation from the Council of States triggered the requirement for this bye-election.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
xxxGIDHxxx
सी.जी.-डी.एलxx.x-GअID.-E0xx1x0 62026-273018
CG-DL-E-01062026-273018
ऄसाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—ईप-खण्ड (iii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (iii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 19] नइ ददल्ली, सोमर्ार, िनू 1, 2026/ज्य ष्े ठ 11, 1948
No. 19] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2026/JYAISHTHA 11, 1948
भारत जनर्ाचा न अयोग
ऄजधसचू ना
नइ ददल्ली, 1 िून, 2026
अ.ऄ. 19(ऄ).—यतः, ओजडिा राज्य की जर्धान सभा के जनर्ााजचत सदस्ट्यों द्वारा राज्य सभा म ें जनर्ााजचत श्री
देबािीष सामंतराय का स्ट्थान जिनकी पदार्जध 03.04.2030 सजहत ईस तारीख तक थी, के समाप्त होने स े पूर्ा त्यागपत्र
देने के कारण 25.05.2026 से ररक्त हो गया ह;ै और
यतः, आस प्रकार हुइ ररजक्त को भरने के प्रयोिन स ेईप-जनर्ााचन कराना ह;ै
ऄतः, ऄब लोक प्रजतजनजधत्र् ऄजधजनयम 1951 (1951 का 43) की धारा 147, धारा 39 की ईपधारा (1) और
धारा 56 के ऄनुसरण में जनर्ाचा न अयोग एतद्द्वारा-
(ऄ) ओजडिा राज्य की जर्धान सभा के जनर्ााजचत सदस्ट्यों स े यह ऄपेक्षा करता ह ै दक र्े 20 िून, 2026 स े पूर्ा तथा
ईक्त ऄजधजनयम और तद्धीन बनाए गए जनयमों और ईनके तहत िारी दकए गए अदिे ों के ईपबन्धों के ऄनुसार राज्य सभा
म ें ईक्त ररजक्त को भरन े के प्रयोिन स े एक व्यजक्त जनर्ााजचत कर द।ें
(अ) ईक्त जनर्ााचन के संबंध म:ें -
(क) नाम जनदेजित करने की ऄजन्तम तारीख – 08 िून, 2026 (सोमर्ार);
(ख) नाम जनदेिन की संर्ीक्षा की तारीख – 09 िून, 2026 (मगं लर्ार);
(ग) ऄभ्यर्थथताएं र्ापस लने े की ऄजन्तम तारीख – 11 िनू , 2026 (गुरूर्ार);
3876 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(iii)]
(घ) र्ह तारीख जिसको यदद अर्श्यक हुअ तो मतदान होगा – 18 िून, 2026 (गुरूर्ार); और
(ड.) र्ह तारीख जिससे पूर् ाजनर्ााचन सम्पन्न करा जलया िाएगा – 20 िून, 2026 (िजनर्ार); जनयत करता ह;ै और
(आ) 09:00 बिे पूर्ााह्न से 04:00 बिे ऄपराह्न तक का समय ईस समय के रूप में जनयत करता ह ै जिसको, यदद
अर्श्यक हुअ तो, जर्जनर्ददष्ट तारीख को मतदान होगा।
[फा.सं. 100/रा.स.-ओजडिा/04/2026(1)]
अदेि से,
सुमन कुमार दास, सजचर्
ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 1st June, 2026
O.N. 19(E).—WHEREAS, the seat of Shri Debashish Samantaray, in the Council of States, elected by the
elected members of the Legislative Assembly of Odisha, has become vacant on 25.05.2026 by the reason of his
resignation, before the expiration of his term of office which was up to and including 03.04.2030; 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 Odisha 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-OD/04/2026 (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.