After West Bengal assembly defeat, three TMC Rajya Sabha members submitted resignations, creating immediate political turmoil. Consequently, the Election Commission scheduled elections for 24 July. Polling will run from 9 AM to 4 PM, and officials will begin counting votes at 5 PM. EC will issue notifications on 7 July, finalize nominations by 14 July, verify applications on 15 July, and allow withdrawal by 17 July. Polling and counting conclude by 27 July.
Assembly Strength and BJP Advantage
BJP holds 207 assembly seats, while TMC controls 80. Congress retains 2, Humayun Kabir’s party 2, and CPI-AISF has 1 each. Analysts note TMC’s division into two factions enhances BJP’s chances across all three vacated Rajya Sabha seats. A successful BJP sweep would raise NDA’s total to 155 members in the upper house.
Sukhendu Shekhar Roy Resignation
Sukhendu Shekhar Roy, a close associate of Mamata Banerjee, led the resignations. On 8 June, he left both TMC and parliament, citing corruption, gender-based violence, and leadership issues. Roy specifically referenced the RG Kar Medical College incident, alleging hardworking TMC members received inadequate recognition.
Sushmita Dev’s Exit
On 10 June, Sushmita Dev followed. She left TMC and immediately met Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma in Delhi. Speculation grew that Dev might join BJP and contest Rajya Sabha from Assam. Dev, originally from Silchar, became a Congress MP in 2014, later joined TMC, and Mamata assigned her to the upper house. She is daughter of former central minister Santosh Mohan Dev.
Prakash Chik Baraiak Resignation
The third resignation came from Prakash Chik Baraiak on 11 June. Unlike the others, he did not level allegations against Mamata or TMC. Baraiak’s exit reflected internal party disagreements rather than corruption claims.
Implications for Bengal Politics
Analysts explain these resignations weaken TMC’s Rajya Sabha strength while consolidating BJP influence. Consequently, election outcomes in these three seats may reshape party dynamics within the state’s parliament representation.
Campaigns and Strategies
All party members have started preparing campaigns. BJP coordinates strategies to maximize voter influence among assembly representatives. Meanwhile, TMC factions attempt internal negotiations to mitigate losses, yet divisions remain pronounced.
Election Commission Oversight
Election Commission officials emphasize transparency, stating nomination processes, scrutiny, and counting will proceed under strict observation. The three vacated seats now symbolize the balance of power in West Bengal’s upper house politics.
