The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday notified by-elections to six seats — three state assembly constituencies of Bihar, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, and three Rajya Sabha seats of West Bengal — with polling for Assembly seats scheduled for July 30 and July 24 for Rajya Sabha seats.
Elections to the Bankipur (Bihar), Mangalpur (Gujarat) and Datia (Madhya Pradesh) assembly constituencies are scheduled to be held since March 30, June 2 and April 2, respectively.
The Bankipur constituency fell vacant after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and five-time MLA Nitin Nabin resigned, after being elected to the Rajya Sabha.
The Mangalpur seat fell vacant after veteran legislator Yogeshbhai Narandas Patil died at the age of 79 after a long illness. A legislator since 1990 – first from Raupura, then Mangalpur – Patel won eight terms, serving as interim speaker of Parliament in 2022 and as a state minister.
Datia’s seat fell vacant after MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified under Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Article 191 (1) (e) of the Constitution, following his conviction in a bank fraud case.
According to ECI, nominations for the House of Representatives for by-elections will close on July 13, scrutiny on July 14 and withdrawal by July 16. Voting will take place on July 30 and counting on August 3.
The by-elections to three Rajya Sabha seats were necessitated after the resignation of Trinamool (TMC) MPs Sukhendu Sekhar Rai, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Shek Parikh.
Ray’s term was scheduled to end on August 18, 2029; Dev’s on April 2, 2030; See you on August 11, 2029.
Nominations for by-elections are scheduled to close on July 14, scrutiny on July 15, and withdrawals by July 17. Voting and counting of votes will take place on July 24.
