The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday notified that by-elections would be held for six seats including three state assembly constituencies of Bihar, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, and three Rajya Sabha seats of West Bengal, with polls for Assembly seats scheduled for July 30 and July 24 for Rajya Sabha seats.
Bihar’s Bankipur fell vacant on March 30 this year after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president and five-time MLA Nitin Nabin resigned, after being elected to the Rajya Sabha.
Gujarat’s Mangalpur fell vacant on June 2 this year after veteran legislator Yogeshbhai Narandas Patel died at the age of 79 after a long illness. A legislator since 1990, first from Raupura, then Mangalpur, Patil won eight terms, serving as interim Speaker of Parliament in 2022 and as a state minister.
Datia constituency in Madhya Pradesh fell vacant on April 2 after MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified under Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Section 191 (1) (e) of the Constitution, following his conviction in a banking case.
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Nominations for the elections are scheduled to end on July 13, and nominations will be scrutinized on July 14 and withdrawals will be made by July 16. Voting will be held on July 30, with results appearing on August 3.
West Bengal
The by-elections became necessary after the resignation of the current members, including Sushmitha Dev.
Along with Dave, Sukhendu Sekhar Rai and Prakash Shek Perak have tendered their resignation from their MP posts in the Senate.
Dave’s term was scheduled to end on April 2, 2030, while Rai’s term ended on August 18, 2029, and Bayrak’s on August 18, 2029.
All three exits from West Bengal came amid a wider crisis for the TMC, with 58 of the party’s 80 members separating after the assembly elections.
