**Executive Summary**
The Election Commission of India has issued this notification to conduct a bye-election for a vacant seat in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) from West Bengal, following the resignation of Shri Sukhendu Shekhar Ray. The election process is scheduled to begin with nominations in mid-July 2026, with a potential poll on July 24, 2026. The entire election process must be completed by the deadline of July 27, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Vacancy Details**
* The vacancy arose due to the resignation of Shri Sukhendu Shekhar Ray on June 8, 2026.
* The original term of the seat was slated to run until August 18, 2029.
* The election is being held under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (Sections 147, 39(1), and 56).
**Election Schedule**
* **Last date for making nominations:** July 14, 2026 (Tuesday).
* **Date for the scrutiny of nominations:** July 15, 2026 (Wednesday).
* **Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures:** July 17, 2026 (Friday).
* **Date of poll (if necessary):** July 24, 2026 (Friday).
* **Hours of poll:** 09:00 AM to 04:00 PM.
* **Date of completion of election:** July 27, 2026 (Monday).
**Statutory Requirements**
* The elected members of the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal are called upon to elect a person to fill the vacancy.
* The election must be conducted in accordance with the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the rules and orders made thereunder.
**Impact Analysis**
**Elected members of the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal**
**Impact**
They are the designated electors responsible for filling the vacancy in the Council of States for the remainder of the term ending in 2029.
**Action Required**
They must elect a representative before July 27, 2026, and participate in the polling process on July 24, 2026, between 09:00 AM and 04:00 PM, if a poll is required.
**Prospective Candidates**
**Impact**
Individuals seeking to contest the bye-election are subject to strict statutory deadlines for nomination and withdrawal.
**Action Required**
Candidates must file their nominations by July 14, 2026, attend the scrutiny on July 15, 2026, and decide on any withdrawal of candidature by July 17, 2026.
Key Entities Referenced
Representation of the People Act, 1951: The primary legislation governing the conduct of elections, under which this bye-election notification is issued.
Election Commission of India: The constitutional authority responsible for organizing and notifying the schedule for the bye-election.
Legislative Assembly of West Bengal: The electing body whose members are called upon to vote to fill the vacancy in the Council of States.
Council of States: The house of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) for which the election is being held to fill a specific vacancy.
Shri Sukhendu Shekhar Ray: The specific member whose resignation created the vacancy in the Council of States necessitating the bye-election.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-07072026-274205
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CG-DL-E-07072026-274205
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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.ं 28] िई दिल्ली, मगं लर्ार, िुलाई 7, 2026/आषाढ 16, 1948
No. 28] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2026/ASHADHA 16, 1948
भारत जिर्ाचा ि आयोग
अजधसचू िा
िई दिल्ली, 7 िुलाई, 2026
आ.अ. 28(अ).— यतः, पजिम बंगाल राज्य की जर्धाि सभा के जिर्ााजचत सिस्ट्यों द्वारा राज्य सभा म ेंजिर्ााजचत श्री
सुखेंि ुिेखर रॉय का स्ट्थाि जििकी पिार्जध 18.08.2029 सजित उस तारीख तक थी, के समाप्त िोिे स ेपूर्ा उिके त् यागपत्र
िेिे के कारण 08.06.2026 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 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);
5067 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 म ें जियत करता ि ै जिसको, यदि
आर्श्यक हुआ तो, जर्जिर्िाष्ट तारीख को मतिाि िोगा।
[फा. स.ं- 100/रा.स.- पजिम बगं ाल/05/2026(1)]
आिेि स,े
सुमि कुमार िास, सजचर्
ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 7th July, 2026
O.N. 28(E).— WHEREAS, the seat of Shri Sukhendu Shekhar Ray, in the Council of States, elected
by the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal, has become vacant on 08.06.2026 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/05/2026 (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.