Full Breakdown
BJP Secures Record Wins in West Bengal’s Nandigram and Rejinagar Bypolls
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Core Event
On October 6 2026, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the Assembly by-elections in West Bengal’s Nandigram (Purba Medinipur) and Rejinagar (Murshidabad). BJP candidate Hasi Rani Rath defeated Congress nominee Milan Pradhan in Nandigram, while Shankharavh Sarkar beat AJUP candidate Golam Nabi Azad in Rejinagar. Both victories were reported as “record” margins, marking the party’s first major breakthrough in a Muslim-majority seat since forming the state government earlier in the year.
Background & Context
The Nandigram poll was triggered after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari retained the Bhabanipur seat in the 2026 Assembly elections, vacating Nandigram. Rejinagar required a bypoll because AJUP founder Humayun Kabir kept the Nowda seat he also won. Nandigram has long been a flashpoint in West Bengal politics, first gaining prominence during the anti-land-acquisition movement that propelled the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to power in 2011.
Data & Statistics
- Nandigram: Reported vote totals range from 1,64,227 to 1,64,453. Victory margins are cited between 1,06,513 and 1,22,800 votes.
- Rejinagar: Shankharavh Sarkar received about 1,29,914 votes; Golam Nabi Azad obtained 54,098. Reported margins vary from 55,583 to 75,816 votes.
- Electorate: Approximately 70 % of Rejinagar voters are Muslim; about 27 % of Nandigram voters belong to minority communities.
Official Statements & Responses
Adhikari claimed the BJP secured roughly 80 % of Muslim votes in Nandigram and 60 % in Rejinagar, projecting the party’s overall vote share—around 46 % in the bypolls—could rise above 60 % in the next elections.
Criticism & Opposition
Opposition parties alleged procedural irregularities. Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was arrested on September 18 and granted conditional bail days before the poll, prompting claims of intimidation. Candidates in Rejinagar also reported restrictions on campaigning. The Election Commission described polling as “more or less peaceful,” but opposition leaders called for repolling, citing alleged voter intimidation and clashes at polling stations.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Margin discrepancies: Nandigram’s margin is variously reported as 1,22,753, 1,22,800, and 1,06,513 votes; Rejinagar’s as 75,816 and 55,583 votes.
- Vote-share claims: Adhikari’s statements about Muslim support are not independently verified; other sources only note the overall minority electorate size.
- Exact vote counts: Minor variations exist in the total votes recorded for Rath (e.g., 1,64,227 vs. 1,64,427). The Election Commission’s final certified figures have not been published.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Gratitude to the people for their continuous blessings! The Lok Sabha result of Nagaon (Assam) and Assembly results of Nandigram as well as Rejinagar (West Bengal) show yet again that the people have a deep-rooted connect with the good governance agenda of BJP-NDA,” — PM Modi
- “BJP candidate Hasi Rani Rath has won from Nandigram and has also crossed my record margin. Minorities in Nandigram have supported us and have positively accepted my request to join our movement,” — Suvendu Adhikari
- “Speaking to ANI, Rath said, "I am grateful to our organisation, our leadership, and our BJP workers who didn't rest day or night and worked for the party.” — Hasi Rani Rath
What’s Next
State officials indicated the BJP will seek to consolidate its foothold ahead of upcoming civic elections in West Bengal, while opposition parties have signaled plans to regroup and challenge the party’s expanding influence in future state contests.