India Schedules Assembly and Rajya Sabha By-elections

The Election Commission of India announced by-elections for three Assembly seats and three Rajya Sabha seats on July 6, 2026. Assembly polling is scheduled for July 30 in Bihar, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, with results expected August 3. The vacancies include the Bankipur seat in Bihar, vacated by Nitin Nabin's move to the Rajya Sabha; the Manjalpur seat in Gujarat, following the death of Yogeshbhai Narandas Patel; and the Datia seat in Madhya Pradesh, following the disqualification of Rajendra Bharti over a bank scam conviction.

In Bihar, the Bankipur contest has intensified as the Jan Suraaj Party named founder Prashant Kishor as its candidate, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal nominated Rekha Gupta. The Bharatiya Janata Party has not yet named its nominee despite strategy meetings involving Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. Patna District Magistrate Kundan Kumar has implemented strict security at the nomination venue, where papers are accepted until July 13.

Separately, by-elections for three Rajya Sabha seats in West Bengal are scheduled for July 24. These vacancies followed the June resignations of Trinamool Congress members Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev, and Prakash Chik Baraik. Because the Bharatiya Janata Party holds a 208-seat majority in the West Bengal Assembly, it is expected to win all three seats and increase its strength in the Upper House.