Historic Shift in Bengal's Rajya Sabha Representation
The Election Commission of India has announced elections for five Rajya Sabha seats from West Bengal, scheduled for March 16, 2025. This development marks a significant political milestone, as the state is poised to send no Congress or Left Front members to the upper house for the first time in its history.
Political Vacuum and BJP's Advance
With both the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) failing to secure any seats in the last assembly elections, their combined candidate, Bikash Bhattacharya of the CPM, will be replaced. This vacancy will be filled by a Bharatiya Janata Party member, representing the party's third Rajya Sabha seat from Bengal, following Ananta Maharaj and Samik Bhattacharya.
West Bengal currently holds 16 Rajya Sabha seats. The Election Commission's notification, issued on Wednesday, covers a total of 37 Rajya Sabha seats across the country. The terms of five members from Bengal are set to expire on April 2, 2025. These include Trinamool Congress members Subrata Bakshi, Saket Gokhale, Ritabrata Banerjee, and Mausam Noor, along with CPM's Bikash Bhattacharya.
Notably, Mausam Noor resigned from the Rajya Sabha on January 5, 2025, upon joining the Congress party.
Detailed Election Schedule
The Election Commission has outlined a comprehensive schedule for the polls:
- Notifications will be issued on February 26, 2025
- Nominations must be submitted by March 5, 2025
- Scrutiny of nominations will occur on March 6, 2025
- The deadline for withdrawal of candidatures is March 9, 2025
If the elections are contested, polling will take place from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on March 16, 2025. Counting of votes will commence at 5:00 PM on the same day. The entire electoral process is scheduled to conclude by March 20, 2025.
Trinamool Congress Strategy and Renomination Prospects
Political sources indicate that Trinamool Congress state president Subrata Bakshi stands a strong chance of being renominated for his Rajya Sabha seat. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to convene a party meeting shortly to finalize the nominations.
Saket Gokhale has served as a Rajya Sabha member since July 2023, following the resignation of Luzinho Faleiro. Ritabrata Banerjee entered the upper house in September 2024, replacing former Prasar Bharati CEO and ex-IAS officer Jawhar Sircar.
Both Gokhale and Banerjee may be renominated, as they have served less than half of the standard six-year term, according to insider sources. Additionally, there are indications that a new Trinamool Congress face might replace Mausam Noor's vacant seat, with several party veterans actively lobbying for the position.
This electoral process underscores the evolving political landscape in West Bengal, where traditional power structures are giving way to new alignments and strategic nominations.
