## Report on Election Commission of India Notification Regarding Council of States Vacancy in West Bengal
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes a notification issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on July 22, 2021, concerning a bye-election to fill a vacancy in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) for the state of West Bengal. The vacancy arose due to the resignation of Shri Dinesh Trivedi. The notification outlines the schedule and procedures for the bye-election, including nomination deadlines, scrutiny dates, withdrawal deadlines, poll date (if necessary), and election completion date. Key findings indicate a rapid timeline for filling the vacancy.
**2. Introduction:**
The purpose of this report is to provide a comprehensive overview of the Election Commission of India's (ECI) notification regarding the bye-election to fill a vacant seat in the Council of States from West Bengal. This analysis is based solely on the information provided within the ECI's official notification dated July 22, 2021.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* This is considered a *new policy* in the sense of a call for a new bye-election. This isn't an amendment to an existing "election policy," but rather a specific action taken *under* the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
* **Core Objective:** The core objective, as explicitly stated in the text, is to call upon the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal to elect a person to fill the vacant seat in the Council of States before August 10th, 2021, in accordance with the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and its associated rules and orders.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
* **Problem/Issue Addressed:** The notification addresses the problem of a vacant seat in the Council of States for West Bengal, which occurred due to the resignation of Shri Dinesh Trivedi on February 12, 2021. This vacancy needs to be filled to ensure proper representation of West Bengal in the Council of States. This ensures the state has adequate representation in the upper house of Parliament.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
* **Main Components & Actions:** The notification establishes the following actions and deadlines for the bye-election process:
* **Call to Elect:** The ECI calls upon the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal to elect a person to fill the vacancy.
* **Nomination Deadline:** Last date for making nominations: July 29, 2021 (Thursday).
* **Scrutiny Date:** Date for the scrutiny of nominations: July 30, 2021 (Friday).
* **Withdrawal Deadline:** Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures: August 2, 2021 (Monday).
* **Poll Date:** Date on which a poll shall be taken, if necessary: August 9, 2021 (Monday).
* **Election Completion Date:** Date before which the election shall be completed: August 10, 2021 (Tuesday).
* **Polling Hours:** The hours from 09:00 am to 04:00 pm are fixed as the hours during which the poll shall be taken, if necessary, on the specified date.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The primary target audience and stakeholders are:
* Elected members of the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal: They are the electors in this bye-election.
* Potential candidates for the Council of States seat.
* The Election Commission of India: Responsible for conducting the election.
* Citizens of West Bengal: Affected by the representation in the Council of States.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency:** The Election Commission of India (ECI) is the responsible body for implementing this notification and overseeing the bye-election. The Secretary of the ECI, Suman Kumar Das, is also indicated.
* **Timelines/Procedures:** The notification specifies a detailed timeline for the entire bye-election process, starting with the nomination deadline and culminating in the election completion date. The election must be conducted in accordance with the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and its associated rules and orders.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact:**
* **Likely Intended Outcomes:** The intended outcome is to fill the vacant seat in the Council of States from West Bengal promptly and in accordance with the law, ensuring proper representation of the state in the Parliament. This ensures the state's voice is heard in national legislative matters.
**9. Conclusion:**
The Election Commission of India's notification outlines a clear and expedited process for filling the vacant Council of States seat from West Bengal. The strict timelines and adherence to the Representation of the People Act, 1951, underscore the importance of maintaining proper representation in the Council of States. The rapid scheduling suggests a commitment to restoring full representation for West Bengal in the upper house of Parliament.
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission of India: The organization issuing the notification regarding a by-election.
Shri Dinesh Trivedi: Member of the Council of States who resigned, causing a vacancy.
Council of States: The upper house of the Parliament of India, where a seat has become vacant.
Legislative Assembly of West Bengal: The state legislative body whose elected members will elect a new member to the Council of States.
West Bengal: State in India where the by-election for the Council of States is to be held.
Representation of the People Act, 1951: The act governing the election process, cited as the legal basis for the notification.
New Delhi: The location where the Election Commission of India issued the notification.
SUMAN KUMAR DAS: Secretary who signed the order.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
xxxGIDHxxx
सी.जी.-डी.एलxx.x-GअID.-E2x2xx0 72021-228422
CG-DL-E-22072021-228422
ऄसाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—ईप-खण्ड (iii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (iii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 35] नइ ददल्ली, बृहस्ट्प जतर्ार, िुलाइ 22, 2021/अषाढ़ 31, 1943
No. 35] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, JULY 22, 2021/ASHADHA 31, 1943
भारत जनर्ाचा न अयोग
ऄजधसचू ना
नइ ददल्ली, 22 िुलाइ, 2021
अ.ऄ. 37(ऄ).—यतः, पजिम बंगाल राज्य की जर्धान सभा के जनर्ााजचत सदस्ट्यों द्वारा राज्य सभा में जनर्ााजचत
श्री ददनेि जिर्ेदी का स्ट्थान जिनकी पदार्जध 02.04.2026 सजहत ईस तारीख तक थी के समाप्त होन े से पूर् ा त्याग पि दने े
के कारण 12.02.2021 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 भारत जनर्ााचन अयोग एतद्द्वारा-
(ऄ) पजिम बगं ाल राज्य की जर्धान सभा के जनर्ााजचत सदस्ट्यों से यह ऄपेक्षा करता ह ै दक र्े 10 ऄगस्ट्त, 2021 से पूर् ा तथा
ईक्त ऄजधजनयम और तद्धीन बनाए गए जनयमों और ईनके तहत िारी दकए गए अदिे ों के ईपबन्धों के ऄनुसार राज्य सभा
में ईक्त ररजक्त को भरन े के प्रयोिन से एक व्यजक्त जनर्ााजचत कर दें।
(अ) ईक्त जनर्ाचा न के सबं धं मःे -
(क) नाम जनदेजित करने की ऄजन्तम तारीख – 29 िलु ाइ, 2021 (गुरुर्ार);
(ख) नाम जनदेिन की संर्ीक्षा की तारीख – 30 िलु ाइ, 2021 (िुक्रर्ार);
(ग) ऄभ्यर्थथताएं र्ापस लने े की ऄजन्तम तारीख – 02 ऄगस्ट्त, 2021 (सोमर्ार);
(घ) र्ह तारीख जिस को यदद अर्श्यक हुअ तो मतदान होगा – 09 ऄगस्ट्त, 2021 (सोमर्ार);और
(ड.) र्ह तारीख जिससे पूर् ाजनर्ााचन सम्पन्न करा जलया िाएगा –10 ऄगस्ट्त, 2021 (मंगलर्ार);
3996 GI/2021 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(iii)]
जनयत करता ह;ै
और
(आ) 09.00 बि े पूर्ााह्न स े 04.00 बि े ऄपराह्न तक का समय ईस समय के रूप म ें जनयत करता ह ै जिसको, यदद
अर्श्यक हुअ तो, जर्जनर्ददष्ट तारीख को मतदान होगा।
[सं. 100/रा.स.-पजिम बंगाल/02/2021(1)]
अदेि से,
सुमन कुमार दास, सजचर्
ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 22nd July, 2021
O.N. 37(E).—WHEREAS, the seat of Shri Dinesh Trivedi, in the Council of States, elected by the elected
members of the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal, has become vacant on 12.02.2021 by the reason of his
resignation, before the expiration of his term of office which was up to and including 02.04.2026; 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 10th August,
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 29th July, 2021 (Thursday), as the last date for making nominations;
(b) the 30th July, 2021 (Friday), as the date for the scrutiny of the nominations;
(c) the 02nd August, 2021 (Monday), as the last date for the withdrawal of candidatures;
(d) the 09th August, 2021 (Monday), as the date on which a poll shall, if necessary, be taken; and
(e) the 10th August, 2021 (Tuesday), 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.
[No. 100/CS-WB/02/2021(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.