**Executive Summary**
This notification announces a bye-election to fill a vacancy in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) representing West Bengal, following the resignation of Ms. Sushmita Dev on June 10, 2026. The Election Commission of India has established a formal schedule for nominations, polling, and results, with a final completion deadline of July 27, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Vacancy Background**
* The seat became vacant due to the resignation of Ms. Sushmita Dev before the expiration of her term (originally ending April 2, 2030).
* The bye-election is conducted under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
**Nomination and Scrutiny Timeline**
* **Last Date for Nominations:** July 14, 2026 (Tuesday).
* **Scrutiny of Nominations:** July 15, 2026 (Wednesday).
* **Last Date for Withdrawal of Candidatures:** July 17, 2026 (Friday).
**Polling and Finalization Schedule**
* **Poll Date (if necessary):** July 24, 2026 (Friday).
* **Polling Hours:** 09:00 AM to 04:00 PM.
* **Completion Deadline:** The election process must be finalized by July 27, 2026 (Monday).
**Impact Analysis**
**Elected Members of the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal**
**Impact**
They are the designated electors required to fill the vacancy in the Council of States.
**Action Required**
Cast votes for the election of a new representative in accordance with the specified timeline and the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
**Prospective Candidates and Political Parties**
**Impact**
They are provided a specific window to contest the vacant seat and must adhere to legal requirements for nomination.
**Action Required**
Submit nomination papers by July 14, 2026, and finalize any withdrawals of candidature by July 17, 2026.
**Election Commission of India (ECI)**
**Impact**
The ECI is responsible for overseeing the statutory conduct of the bye-election.
**Action Required**
Administer the nomination, scrutiny, and polling process to ensure the election is completed before the July 27, 2026, deadline.
Key Entities Referenced
Representation of the People Act, 1951: The primary legislation governing the conduct of elections, specifically cited under Sections 147, 39, and 56 for this bye-election.
Election Commission of India: The primary regulatory body responsible for conducting and overseeing the bye-election process to fill the vacancy in the Rajya Sabha.
Council of States: Also known as the Rajya Sabha, this is the upper house of Parliament where the vacancy has occurred.
Legislative Assembly of West Bengal: The state legislative body whose elected members are tasked with electing a person to fill the vacancy in the Council of States.
Ms. Sushmita Dev: The former member of the Council of States whose resignation created the vacancy that this notification seeks to fill.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-07072026-274204
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CG-DL-E-07072026-274204
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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.ं 29] िई दिल्ली, मगं लर्ार, िुलाई 7, 2026/आषाढ 16, 1948
No. 29] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2026/ASHADHA 16, 1948
भारत जिर्ाचा ि आयोग
अजधसचू िा
िई दिल्ली, 7 िुलाई, 2026
आ.अ. 29(अ).— यतः, पजिम बंगाल राज्य की जर्धाि सभा के जिर्ााजचत सिस्ट्यों द्वारा राज्य सभा में जिर्ााजचत
सुश्री सुजममता िेर् का स्ट्थाि जििकी पिार्जध 02.04.2030 सजित उस तारीख तक थी, के समाप्त िोिे स ेपूर् ाउिके त् यागपत्र
िेिे के कारण 10.06.2026 से ररक्त िो गया ि;ै और
यतः, इस प्रकार हुई ररजक्त को भरिे के प्रयोिि स ेउप-जिर्ााचि करािा ि;ै
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) पजिम बंगाल राज्य की जर्धाि सभा के जिर्ााजचत सिस्ट्यों स े यि अपेक्षा करता ि ैदक र्े 27 िलु ाई, 2026 स े पर्ू ा
तथा उक्त अजधजियम और तद्धीि बिाए गए जियमों और उिके तित िारी दकए गए आिेिों के उपबन्धों के अिुसार राज्य
सभा में उक्त ररजक्त को भरिे के प्रयोिि से एक व्यजक्त जिर्ााजचत कर िें।
(आ) उक्त जिर्ााचि के संबंध म:ें -
(क) िाम जििेजित करिे की अजन्तम तारीख – 14 िलु ाई, 2026 (मगं लर्ार);
(ख) िाम जििेिि की संर्ीक्षा की तारीख – 15 िलु ाई, 2026 (बुधर्ार);
(ग) अभ्यर्थता ाएं र्ापस लिे े की अजन्तम तारीख – 17 िुलाई, 2026 (िुक्रर्ार);
(घ) र्ि तारीख जिसको यदि आर्श्यक हुआ तो मतिाि िोगा – 24 िुलाई, 2026 (िुक्रर्ार); और
5068 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(iii)]
(ड.) र्ि तारीख जिससे पूर् ाजिर्ााचि सम्पन्न करा जलया िाएगा – 27 िलु ाई, 2026 (सोमर्ार); जियत करता ि;ै
और
(इ) 09:00 बिे पूर्ााह्ि से 04:00 बिे अपराह्ि तक का समय उस समय के रूप म ें जियत करता ि ै जिसको, यदि
आर्श्यक हुआ तो, जर्जिर्िाष्ट तारीख को मतिाि िोगा।
[फा. सं.- 100/रा.स.- पजिम बगं ाल/06/2026(1)]
आिेि स,े
सुमि कुमार िास, सजचर्
ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 7th July, 2026
O.N. 29(E).— WHEREAS, the seat of Ms. Sushmita Dev, in the Council of States, elected by the
elected members of the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal, has become vacant on 10.06.2026 by the
reason of her resignation, before the expiration of her term of office which was up to and including
02.04.2030; 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 West Bengal to elect, before 27th
July, 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 14th July, 2026 (Tuesday), as the last date for making nominations;
(b) the 15th July, 2026 (Wednesday), as the date for the scrutiny of the nominations;
(c) the 17th July, 2026 (Friday), as the last date for the withdrawal of candidatures;
(d) the 24th July, 2026 (Friday), as the date on which a poll shall, if necessary, be taken; and
(e) the 27th July, 2026 (Monday), 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-WB/06/2026 (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.