EC announces dates for 3 vacant Rajya Sabha seats of Bengal, Polls on July 24

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially announced the schedule for by-elections to fill three vacant Rajya Sabha seats from West Bengal. These crucial casual vacancies arose following the high-profile resignations of three sitting Trinamool Congress (TMC) Members of Parliament: Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Sushmita Dev, and Prakash Chik Baraik. The sudden departures come amid a reported ongoing rebellion within the regional ruling party.

As per the details, candidates have until July 14, 2026, to submit their nominations, with the subsequent scrutiny process scheduled for July 15, 2026. The final date permitted for the withdrawal of candidatures has been locked for July 17, 2026, solidifying the dynamic of the upcoming electoral contest.

The actual voting for all three separate by-elections will take place on July 24, 2026, between 09:00 AM and 04:00 PM. In line with the guidelines outlined in image_b66dbb.jpg, the counting of votes will commence immediately on the same day at 05:00 PM. The Election Commission has mandated that the entire electoral process must be fully completed before July 27, 2026, and directed voters to exclusively use the pre-fixed violet sketch pens provided by the Returning Officer to mark preferences on their ballot papers.