## Report on Election Commission of India Notification Regarding Council of States By-Election in West Bengal
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes a notification from the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding a by-election to fill a vacant seat in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) representing West Bengal. The vacancy arose due to the resignation of Shri Manas Ranjan Bhunia. The notification outlines the schedule for the by-election, including dates for nomination, scrutiny, withdrawal of candidatures, polling (if necessary), and completion of the election process. The key finding is the establishment of a specific timetable and procedure for electing a new member to the Council of States from West Bengal.
**2. Introduction:**
This report aims to provide an informative overview of the Election Commission of India's notification (O.N. 48E) concerning a by-election for a vacant seat in the Council of States representing West Bengal. The analysis is based solely on the provided text of the notification.
**3. Policy Overview:**
This is a new policy announcement regarding a specific by-election. The core objective, as stated within the provided text, is to conduct a by-election to fill the vacant seat in the Council of States caused by the resignation of Shri Manas Ranjan Bhunia.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
The policy addresses the immediate issue of a vacant seat in the Council of States due to a resignation. The provided text indicates that Shri Manas Ranjan Bhunia resigned from his position, creating the need for a by-election to ensure West Bengal's representation in the Council of States remains complete. The notification emphasizes the need to fill the vacancy promptly.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
Since this is a notification of a new by-election, the key provisions establish the specific timeline and guidelines for the election process. These include:
* **Calling Upon Elected Members:** The ECI calls upon the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal to elect a person to fill the vacancy.
* **Election Deadline:** The election must be completed before 6th October 2021.
* **Nomination Dates:**
* Last date for making nominations: 22nd September 2021 (Wednesday).
* Date for scrutiny of nominations: 23rd September 2021 (Thursday).
* Last date for withdrawal of candidatures: 27th September 2021 (Monday).
* **Polling Date:** If necessary, a poll will be taken on 4th October 2021 (Monday).
* **Polling Hours:** If necessary, the poll will be conducted between 09:00 am and 04:00 pm on the specified date.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The primary target audience is the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal, who are responsible for electing the new member of the Council of States. Other stakeholders include:
* Potential candidates for the Council of States seat.
* The Election Commission of India, responsible for overseeing the election process.
* Citizens of West Bengal who are represented in the Council of States.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency:** The Election Commission of India is the primary responsible body.
* **Timelines:** The notification specifies a clear timeline for each stage of the election process.
* **Procedures:** The text references the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and related rules and orders, implying that the election will be conducted according to established legal frameworks. It does not detail the procedures, but points to the governing legislation.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The expected outcome is the filling of the vacant seat in the Council of States with a new elected representative from West Bengal. This will ensure that West Bengal's representation in the Council of States is restored. The successful completion of the by-election, according to the outlined schedule, is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the democratic process.
**9. Conclusion:**
The Election Commission of India's notification regarding the West Bengal Council of States by-election sets out a clear and concise roadmap for filling the vacant seat. The notification establishes a specific timetable and assigns responsibility for the execution of the election to the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal and ECI. This notification is significant as it ensures the continuation of democratic representation for West Bengal in the Council of States.
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission of India: The governing body responsible for conducting elections in India, which issued the notification.
Council of States: Upper house of the Parliament of India, where a seat has become vacant.
Legislative Assembly of West Bengal: The state legislative assembly whose elected members will elect a member to the Council of States.
Manas Ranjan Bhunia: The former member of the Council of States whose seat became vacant due to resignation.
Representation of the People Act, 1951: An act of the Parliament of India that regulates elections to the Houses of Parliament and the State Legislatures.
West Bengal: State in India for whose legislative assembly the notification is relevant.
Suman Kumar Das: Secretary who signed the order on behalf of the Election Commission of India.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
xxxGIDHxxx
सी.जी.-डी.एxलxx.-GअID.E-1x6xx0 92021-229661
CG-DL-E-16092021-229661
ऄसाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—ईप-खण्ड (iii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (iii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 46] नइ ददल्ली, बुधर्ार, जसतम्ब र 15, 2021/भाद्र 24, 1943
No. 46] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021/BHADRA 24, 1943
भारत जनर्ाचा न अयोग
ऄजधसचू ना
नइ ददल्ली, 15 जसतम्बर, 2021
अ.ऄ. 48(ऄ).— यतः, पजिम बंगाल राज्य की जर्धान सभा के जनर्ााजचत सदस्ट्यों द्वारा राज्य सभा में जनर्ााजचत श्री मानस
रंिन भूजनया का स्ट्थान जिनकी पदार्जध 18.08.2023 सजित ईस तारीख तक थी के समाप्त िोने से पूर्ा ईनके त्याग पत्र दने े के कारण
06.05.2021 से ररक्त िो गया िै; और
यतः, आस प्रकार हुइ ररजक्त को भरने के प्रयोिन से ईप-जनर्ााचन कराना ि;ै
ऄतः, ऄब लोक प्रजतजनजधत्र् ऄजधजनयम 1951 (1951 का 43) की धारा 147, धारा 39 की ईपधारा (1) और धारा 56 के
ऄनुसरण में भारत जनर्ााचन अयोग एतद्द्वारा-
(ऄ) पजिम बंगाल राज्य की जर्धान सभा के जनर्ााजचत सदस्ट्यों से यि ऄपेक्षा करता िै दक र्े 06 ऄक्तूबर, 2021 से पूर्ा तथा ईक्त
ऄजधजनयम और तद्धीन बनाए गए जनयमों और ईनके तित िारी दकए गए अदेिों के ईपबधोंधों के ऄनुसार राज्य सभा में ईक्त ररजक्त को
भरने के प्रयोिन से एक व्यजक्त जनर्ााजचत कर दें।
(अ) ईक्त जनर्ाचा न के सबं धं में:-
(क) नाम जनदजे ित करने की ऄजधोंतम तारीख – 22 जसतम्बर, 2021 (बुधर्ार);
(ख) नाम जनदिे न की संर्ीक्षा की तारीख – 23 जसतम्बर, 2021 (गुरुर्ार);
(ग) ऄभ्यर्थथताएं र्ापस लेने की ऄजधोंतम तारीख – 27 जसतम्बर, 2021 (सोमर्ार);
5173 GI/2021 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(iii)]
(घ) र्ि तारीख जिसको यदद अर्श्यक हुअ तो मतदान िोगा – 04 ऄक्तूबर, 2021 (सोमर्ार); और
(ड.) र्ि तारीख जिससे पूर्ा जनर्ााचन सम्पन्न करा जलया िाएगा – 06 ऄक्तूबर, 2021 (बुधर्ार); जनयत करता िै; और
(आ) 09:00 बिे पूर्ााह्न से 04:00 बिे ऄपराह्न तक का समय ईस समय के रूप में जनयत करता ि ैजिसको, यदद अर्श्यक हुअ
तो, जर्जनर्ददष्ट तारीख को मतदान िोगा।
[फा.सं. 100/रा.स.-पजिम बंगाल/04/2021(1)]
अदिे से,
सुमन कुमार दास,सजचर्
ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 15th September, 2021
O.N. 48(E).— WHEREAS, the seat of Shri Manas Ranjan Bhunia, in the Council of States, elected by the
elected members of the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal, has become vacant on 06.05.2021 by the reason of his
resignation, before the expiration of his term of office which was up to and including 18.08.2023; 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 of India hereby-
(A) calls upon the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal to elect, before 06th October,
2021 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 22nd September, 2021 (Wednesday), as the last date for making nominations;
(b) the 23rd September, 2021 (Thursday), as the date for the scrutiny of the nominations;
(c) the 27th September, 2021 (Monday), as the last date for the withdrawal of candidatures;
(d) the 04th October, 2021 (Monday), as the date on which a poll shall, if necessary, be taken; and
(e) the 06th October, 2021 (Wednesday), 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/04/2021(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.