India announces by-elections for Rajya Sabha and assembly seats

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially announced by-elections for a total of six seats, comprising three in the Rajya Sabha and three in state assemblies across Bihar, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. This move sets the stage for electoral contests to fill the vacant positions, with polling dates strategically set to manage the electoral process.

Polling for the three Rajya Sabha seats, all from West Bengal, is scheduled for July 24. The vacancies were created by the resignations of Trinamool Congress members Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Sushmita Dev, and Prakash Chik Barik. Their tenures were set to conclude in 2029 and 2030, making these by-elections crucial for maintaining the legislative balance.

Meanwhile, the assembly constituencies of Bankipur in Bihar, Manjalpur in Gujarat, and Datia in Madhya Pradesh will go to polls on July 30. These seats became vacant due to various reasons: the Bankipur seat following the resignation of BJP president Nitin Nabin upon his election to the Rajya Sabha; the Manjalpur seat after the death of veteran legislator Yogeshbhai Narandas Patel; and the Datia seat due to the disqualification of MLA Rajendra Bharti after a bank fraud conviction.

Nomination processes for both sets of by-elections are underway, with deadlines for nominations, scrutiny, and withdrawals clearly defined. The counting of votes for the assembly bypolls will take place on August 3, while the Rajya Sabha polling will be followed by immediate counting on July 24.