The Election Commission of India has scheduled the by-election for the West Bengal Rajya Sabha seat on October 16. This date lands squarely on Durga Shashthi, the sixth day of the major Durga Puja festivities in the state. The seat became vacant when former Trinamool Congress MP Koel Mallick resigned on July 16.
Mallick, an actress and lawyer, was elected to the Upper House in March last year. She had been nominated by the then-ruling Trinamool Congress alongside other key figures like Babul Supriyo. However, she never attended a single parliamentary session. Her resignation came just before the Monsoon Session was set to begin, leaving her tenure effectively empty of legislative presence.
This by-election follows a wave of resignations from the Rajya Sabha after the Trinamool’s defeat in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections. Before Mallick, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev, and Prakash Chik Baraik also stepped down. The Bharatiya Janata Party subsequently sent all three back to the House, a move that fueled speculation about similar treatment for Mallick.
With the poll date now fixed, political parties are preparing their candidates for the October 16 vote. The coincidence with a major religious festival poses logistical challenges for voter mobilization in West Bengal. The Election Commission will announce candidate nominations in the coming days, setting the stage for the final contest for the seat.