Kolkata, July 6 -- The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced bypolls to three Rajya Sabha seats from West Bengal, setting the stage for what is expected to be an easy sweep for the BJP, while the divided Trinamool Congress (TMC) appears unlikely to mount an effective challenge.

The bypolls, scheduled for July 24, were necessitated by the resignations of former TMC Rajya Sabha members Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik, who quit both the Upper House and the party in June after the political turmoil triggered by the TMC's Assembly election defeat.

Ray resigned on June 8, followed by Dev on June 10 and Baraik on June 11. Ray and Baraik were due to serve until August 18, 2029, while Dev's term was to continue till April 2, 2030. The Assembly arithmetic overwhelmingly favours the BJP. With 208 MLAs in the 294-member House, the ruling party can comfortably field three candidates and secure around 70, 69 and 69 votes respectively, enough to win all three seats if voting remains along party lines.

The fractured TMC, despite having around 80 MLAs elected on its symbol, faces an uphill task. Political observers said the split within the party makes it difficult for rival factions to unite behind common candidates, leaving little scope to retain any of the vacancies.

According to the poll schedule, nominations can be filed till July 14, scrutiny will be held on July 15 and withdrawals are permitted till July 17. Voting will take place between 9 am and 4 pm on July 24, followed by counting from 5 pm. The election process will conclude on July 27, with the ECI also set to appoint observers to oversee the polls.

Explaining the conduct of the polls, the Election Commission said that each vacancy would be filled through a separate election even though all three contests would follow a common schedule.

"In terms of Section 147 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, read with Rule 75 and Rule 76 of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, every contest to fill a casual vacancy in the Council of States shall be held separately, and therefore, three separate elections are being conducted for the three vacancies," the ECI said in a statement.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.