New Delhi/Bhubaneswar, May 3: The Election Commission of India (ECI) today gave a notification to hold by-elections to the Council of State from Odisha to fill up the vacancy of Bishnu Charan Das.
Notably, Bishnu’s term of being the Rajya Sabha member is valid upto 1st of July, 2022. But, though he has resigned from the post, filling up of it is necessary. Bishnu resigned from the post of the MP on 21st of March, 2017 as he was been appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the Odisha State Planning Board.
As per the press note:
| Sl.No. | Subject of Program | Dates and Days |
| 1. | Issue of Notifications | 8th May, 2017 (Monday) |
| 2. | Last Date of making nominations | 15th May, 2017 (Monday) |
| 3. | Scrutiny of nominations | 16th May, 2017 (Tuesday) |
| 4. | Last date for withdrawal of candidatures | 18th May, 2017 (Thursday) |
| 5. | Date of Poll | 25th May, 2017 (Thursday) |
| 6. | Hours of Poll | 9.00 A.M. to 4.00 P.M. |
| 7. | Counting of Votes | 25th May, 2017 (Thursday) at 5.00 P.M. |
| 8. | Date before which election shall be completed | 27th May, 2017 (Saturday) |
