**Executive Summary**
This notification by the Election Commission of India announces a bye-election to fill a vacancy in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) from West Bengal following the resignation of Shri Prakash Chik Baraik. The election process is scheduled to take place in July 2026, with the poll, if necessary, set for July 24, 2026. The entire election process must be completed by the deadline of July 27, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Vacancy Background**
* The seat previously held by Shri Prakash Chik Baraik became vacant on June 11, 2026, due to his resignation.
* The original term for this seat was scheduled to run until August 18, 2029.
* **Statutory Authority**
* The bye-election is being conducted under the provisions of Section 147, Section 39(1), and Section 56 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
* **Election Schedule**
* **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).
* **Date of Poll (if necessary):** July 24, 2026 (Friday).
* **Final Completion Date:** July 27, 2026 (Monday).
* **Polling Details**
* If a poll is required, voting will take place between 09:00 am and 04:00 pm on the specified date.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: 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**
They must elect a person for the vacancy in accordance with the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and participate in the poll on July 24, 2026, if necessary.
**Stakeholder: Prospective Candidates**
**Impact**
Individuals seeking to contest the seat must comply with the shortened timelines of a bye-election.
**Action Required**
Candidates must file their nominations by July 14, 2026, and ensure any withdrawals are submitted by the July 17, 2026, deadline.
**Stakeholder: Election Commission of India**
**Impact**
The Commission is responsible for the formal administration and legal oversight of the bye-election process.
**Action Required**
The Commission must oversee the scrutiny of nominations on July 15, 2026, and ensure the election is completed in its entirety by July 27, 2026.
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission of India: The constitutional authority responsible for conducting elections in India and issuing the notification for the bye-election.
Representation of the People Act, 1951: The primary legislation, specifically Sections 147, 39, and 56, providing the legal framework for filling the vacancy in the Council of States.
Legislative Assembly of West Bengal: The state legislative body whose elected members are mandated to participate in the election to fill the Rajya Sabha seat.
Council of States (Rajya Sabha): The upper house of the Indian Parliament where a vacancy was created due to a member's resignation.
Shri Prakash Chik Baraik: The individual whose resignation from the Council of States on June 11, 2026, triggered the requirement for this bye-election.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-07072026-274207
xxxGIDHxxx
CG-DL-E-07072026-274207
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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.ं 30] िई दिल्ली, मगं लर्ार, िुलाई 7, 2026/आषाढ 16, 1948
No. 30] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2026/ASHADHA 16, 1948
भारत जिर्ाचा ि आयोग
अजधसचू िा
िई दिल्ली, 7 िुलाई, 2026
आ.अ. 30(अ).—-यतः, पजिम बंगाल राज्य की जर्धाि सभा के जिर्ााजचत सिस्ट्यों द्वारा राज्य सभा म ें जिर्ााजचत
श्री प्रकाि जचक बाराईक का स्ट्थाि जििकी पिार्जध 18.08.2029 सजित उस तारीख तक थी, के समाप्त िोिे स ेपूर्ा उिके
त् यागपत्र िेि े के कारण 11.06.2026 स े 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 जिर्ाचा ि 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 म ें उक्त ररजक्त को भरिे के प्रयोिि स े 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 िुलाई, 2026 (बुधर्ार);
5069 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(iii)]
(ग) अभ्यर्थाताए ंर्ापस लिे े की अजन्तम तारीख – 17 िुलाई, 2026 (िुक्रर्ार);
(घ) र्ि तारीख जिसको यदि आर्श्यक हुआ तो मतिाि िोगा – 24 िुलाई, 2026 (िुक्रर्ार); और
(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 में जियत करता ि ै जिसको, यदि
आर्श्यक हुआ तो, जर्जिर्िाष्ट तारीख को मतिाि िोगा।
[फा. सं.- 100/रा.स.- पजिम बंगाल/07/2026(1]
आिेि स,े
सुमि कुमार िास, सजचर्
ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 7th July, 2026
O.N. 30(E).— WHEREAS, the seat of Shri Prakash Chik Baraik, in the Council of States, elected by the
elected members of the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal, has become vacant on 11.06.2026 by the reason of his
resignation, before the expiration of his term of office which was up to and including 18.08.2029; 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/07/2026 (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.