Full Breakdown
Rejinagar By-poll: Allegations of Police-led Voter Intimidation and the Arrest of AJUP Chief Humayun Kabir
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On October 6 2026 the Assembly by-elections for West Bengal’s Rejinagar (Murshidabad) and Nandigram (Purba Medinipur) constituencies were held. In Rejinagar, AJUP chief and Nowda MLA Humayun Kabir was detained after a confrontation with police at his party office. Kabir, who vacated the seat after winning it on May 4 2026, alleged that police and the state administration were preventing voters—particularly Muslims, who comprise about 69 % of the electorate—from casting ballots. Opposition candidates and local residents reported booths being “captured,” polling agents driven away, and voters turned back with claims their votes had already been cast.
Background & Context
Rejinagar became vacant after Kabir won both Rejinagar and Nowda in May 2026 and chose to retain Nowda. The by-poll tested whether Kabir could transfer his personal following to his son Golam Nabi Azad, the AJUP candidate. Other contenders included BJP’s Sakharav Sarkar, TMC’s Rabiul Alam Chowdhury and Safiuzzaman Sheikh, Congress’s Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi, and CPI(M)’s Syed Asad Ali.
Data & Statistics
- Reported turnout: 79.39 % in Nandigram and 78.42 % in Rejinagar (Election Commission).
- Media outlets placed Rejinagar turnout at roughly 80 % and Nandigram at 80.87 %.
- Rejinagar has 2.57 lakh electors and 315 polling stations.
Official Statements & Responses
- Election-commission observer Harshal Pancholi (IAS) declared the Rejinagar poll “free and fair” after reviewing video evidence and pledged to “cross-check” specific allegations.
- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari (BJP) said the law applies equally to all and that Kabir’s arrest was lawful, adding that the polling was peaceful.
Criticism & Opposition
- Congress candidate Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi called the situation “democracy being murdered” and said voters were barred from casting ballots.
- CPI(M) leader Mohammed Salim accused the Election Commission of colluding with the BJP-led state government to facilitate “electoral malpractice.”
On-the-Ground Reports
In Rejinagar’s Teghari Primary School (Nazirpur village) several Muslim women were observed queuing normally until police and paramilitary personnel allegedly turned away men attempting to vote. In Maradighi village, residents said more than a dozen people were denied access to four polling booths, describing police as “watching” the intimidation without intervening.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Turnout figures differ: 78.42 % (Election Commission) versus ? 80 % (media) for Rejinagar.
- Police assert Kabir’s arrest was for violating the model code of conduct; AJUP and opposition leaders allege political motivation and note no formal charges have been disclosed.
- No independent verification has been provided for the claim that 64 AJUP supporters were detained or for the alleged “booth capture” at specific locations.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If Suvendu Adhikari remains the chief minister, I will not go to the assembly. I will seek forgiveness from the people of Nowda,” — Humayun Kabir, AJUP chief
- “Residents of Rejinagar were not allowed to vote. RSS workers and police were given special badges. Those who roamed around wearing that badge looted votes. If I can't protest against this injustice, what can I do through politics or being an MLA? I am saying this from my heart. After Durga Puja, I will hold a meeting and apologise to the people. I will end my political career,” — Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi, Congress candidate
- “The MLA of Nowda (Kabir) has been arrested. Law is equal for everyone, and nobody should try to violate it,” — Suvendu Adhikari, Chief Minister
What’s Next
Votes from both constituencies are scheduled to be counted on October 9. The Election Commission has sought a police report on Kabir’s detention, and opposition parties have filed formal requests for repolling in Rejinagar. Legal challenges may arise concerning the alleged suppression of local journalists’ Facebook pages, which were restricted under India’s IT Intermediary Guidelines in early October.