Full Breakdown
West Bengal Bypolls: High Turnout Amid Allegations of Booth Irregularities
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Voting on October 6, 2026
On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, voters in the Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly constituencies cast ballots in by-elections triggered by the resignation of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari from Nandigram and the vacating of Rejinagar by Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief Humayun Kabir. The Election Commission reported about 5.24 lakh eligible electors across the two seats.
Background & Context
Nandigram, the site of the 2011 anti-land-acquisition movement, was where BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari defeated TMC chief Mamata Banerjee in 2021 and retained the seat in 2026 before choosing to stay in Bhabanipur, prompting the by-poll. Rejinagar, a minority-dominant area in Murshidabad, fell vacant after Kabir retained the adjacent Nowda constituency.
Key Figures & Groups
- Suvendu Adhikari – BJP chief minister, former Nandigram MLA.
- Hasirani Rath – BJP candidate for Nandigram, mother of the late Chandranath Rath.
- Milan Pradhan – Congress candidate in Nandigram.
- Rabiul Alam Chowdhury – TMC candidate in Rejinagar.
- Humayun Kabir – AJUP founder, arrested during polling in Rejinagar.
- Golam Nabi Azad – AJUP candidate in Rejinagar, Kabir’s son.
Data & Statistics
- Turnout: 79.39 % in Nandigram and 78.42 % in Rejinagar by 5 p.m. (later reports showed 80.89 % and 80.08 %).
- Electors: 2.67 lakh (Nandigram) and 2.57 lakh (Rejinagar).
- Booths: 323 in Nandigram, 315 in Rejinagar.
- Security: 71 companies of central forces deployed.
Official Statements & Responses
BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya projected a “huge margin” for the party. The Election Commission described the process as “more or less peaceful” but recorded 97 complaints. The Chief Electoral Officer confirmed that a report on Kabir’s arrest had been sent to the Commission.
Criticism & Opposition
- Congress: State president Shubhankar Sarkar alleged that agents were forcibly removed from over 100 booths in Rejinagar.
- TMC: Candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury said only 25–30 of his party’s 315 agents remained at their booths.
- AJUP: Kabir’s supporters accused the police of acting on behalf of the chief minister, calling his detention a “pre-planned political drama.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “Here, we will win by a big margin. In Rejinagar too, the BJP has got the votes needed to win,” — Suvendu Adhikari
- “I never witnessed such a silent rigging in my MLA career of 13 years. During the TMC-rule, I won twice as a Congress candidate.” — Rabiul Alam Chowdhury
- “Congress knows they are going to lose, so they are preparing the ground to question the polling process.” — Debjit Sarkar
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Turnout figures differ between the two Commission releases (80.89 %/80.08 % vs. 79.39 %/78.42 %). While the Commission called the polling “more or less peaceful,” opposition parties cite booth evictions and alleged police intimidation, a gap under investigation.
What’s Next
Vote counting is scheduled for October 9, 2026, with the full by-poll process to conclude by October 11. The results will be watched as an early test of the BJP’s foothold in West Bengal and the resilience of opposition coalitions.