Rajya Sabha poll: Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Nov 26: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced the schedule for by-elections to fill six Rajya Sabha seats, including one from Odisha, on December 20, 2024.
As per the ECI’s announcement, the notification for the bypoll will be issued on December 3, with the last date for filing nominations set for December 10. Scrutiny of nominations will take place on December 11, and candidates can withdraw their nominations until December 13. Voting will occur between 9 am and 4 pm on December 20, and the counting of votes will be held at 5 pm on the same day.
The Odisha Rajya Sabha seat became vacant after Sujeet Kumar resigned on September 6, 2024, following his expulsion from BJD for alleged anti-party activities. Kumar, elected to the Rajya Sabha on April 3, 2020, had his term set to end on April 2, 2026. A native of Kalahandi district, he was once closely associated with BJD president Naveen Patnaik’s aide VK Pandian. His resignation, following the earlier departure of Mamata Mohanta, has reduced BJD’s strength in the Rajya Sabha to seven members, with the party also lacking representation in the Lok Sabha.
With the BJP’s majority in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, the vacant seat is expected to be filled by a BJP candidate.
