Nandigram–Rejinagar By-elections

In Nandigram, the historic ground of the 2007 land movement, there is an unusual sense of calm today. Just a few kilometres away, however, the picture is completely different in Murshidabad’s Rejinagar, where the polling day began amid tension, allegations of attacks and counter-attacks, and reports of political clashes.

Five months ago, Bengal’s political landscape changed. The BJP came to power in the 2026 Assembly elections, while the Trinamool Congress split into two factions. Against this altered political backdrop, today’s two by-elections are not merely contests for two Assembly seats; they are the first electoral test of the new political reality. Polling is being held from 7 am to 6 pm, with results scheduled to be declared on October 9.

Polling figures

By 1 pm, voter turnout in Nandigram stood at 60.32 per cent, while Rejinagar recorded 56.43 per cent. The combined turnout for the two constituencies was 58.37 per cent.

According to Election Commission data, by 11 am, turnout had been 43.95 per cent in Nandigram and 38.71 per cent in Rejinagar. Thus, within two hours, turnout rose by nearly 16 percentage points in Nandigram and nearly 18 percentage points in Rejinagar.

At 9 am, turnout in Nandigram had been 20.89 per cent and 18.05 per cent in Rejinagar. This meant that Nandigram’s turnout had almost doubled within the following two hours.

The Election Commission has said that polling has been largely peaceful, although several untoward incidents have been reported.

In Nandigram, crowds of voters began gathering at polling stations soon after voting started at 7 am. After 20.89 per cent turnout by 9 am, the figure rose to 43.95 per cent by 11 am.

Congress leaders, however, alleged voter intimidation, booth capturing, proxy voting and malfunctioning EVMs. Supporters of Congress candidate Milan Pradhan claimed that their polling agents were not being allowed to enter several booths.

BJP candidate Hasirani Rath said:

“We are Sanatanis. We begin every auspicious occasion with prayers to God. Today is our voting day, so we began the day with prayers.”

In Rejinagar, turnout rose from 18.05 per cent at 9 am to 38.71 per cent by 11 am. Local journalists reported that at least 25 polling stations in Muslim-majority areas had allegedly been captured. Several Muslim voters alleged that officials had applied indelible ink to their fingers but had not allowed them to vote. Women voters claimed that BJP workers had taken away their voter slips.

Protests began in Rejinagar under the leadership of Congress candidate Abdullahil Kafi. A procession from the district Congress office in Berhampore reached the district administrative office, while Kafi himself staged a sit-in outside Rejinagar police station with his supporters. The protests were over allegations of “vote theft” by the ruling party and the police.

An Election Commission official said:

“Polling has been peaceful so far. Adequate central forces have been deployed in both constituencies.”

The stakes in Nandigram

Nandigram has 323 polling stations and 267,157 registered voters. Rejinagar has 315 polling stations and 257,657 voters. A total of 71 companies of central forces have been deployed across the two constituencies—37 in Nandigram and 34 in Rejinagar.

One of the biggest controversies surrounding the by-elections concerns the electoral rolls.

According to Election Commission data, 18,895 appeals have been filed across the two constituencies—6,443 in Nandigram and 12,452 in Rejinagar. As of October 5, only 90 appeals had been disposed of: 86 in Nandigram and four in Rejinagar.

The issue has raised questions about voters’ access to the electoral process.

On September 28, the Supreme Court declined to hear the West Bengal Special Intensive Revision (SIR) case. Chief Justice Surya Kant reportedly observed:

“These are only by-elections.”

In Rejinagar, 19,800 voters were brought before judicial officers, of whom 3,923 were declared ineligible. Of these, 3,752—or 95.6 per cent—were Muslim voters.

In Nandigram, 10,616 voters were subjected to the judicial process, of whom 3,461 were declared ineligible. Among them, 3,270—or 94.5 per cent—were Muslim voters.

These figures have fuelled allegations that the electoral-roll process has disproportionately affected one community. The issue has consequently become a major point of contention over the electoral process.

Nandigram occupies a distinctive place in Bengal’s political history. The 2007 land movement helped the then Opposition Trinamool Congress build the political momentum that eventually brought it to power. Today, however, the Trinamool Congress founded by Mamata Banerjee is divided, and the party’s electoral symbol remains embroiled in an Election Commission dispute. For the first time, therefore, Nandigram is going to the polls without Mamata Banerjee’s party and its familiar symbol.

The BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath, the mother of the late Chandranath Rath. Chandranath Rath was Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s personal assistant and was killed on a road in Madhyamgram on May 6. Political observers have suggested that sympathy for him could influence the contest.

Adhikari campaigned in Nandigram and said:

“My relationship with Nandigram is 24 years old. This relationship will not end. I will remain with you for the next 55 months.”

Addressing voters, he said:

“Vote in such a way that every Trinamool candidate loses their deposit. Not a single one should retain their deposit.”

The Congress candidate is Milan Pradhan. Trinamool Congress candidate Sanchita Pradhan De, who had been nominated by the Mamata Banerjee-led faction, met Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at the last moment and withdrew her nomination. Banerjee subsequently announced her support for the Congress candidate, describing the move as an effort to strengthen the INDIA bloc.

A total of 16 candidates are contesting Nandigram, including candidates from the BJP, Congress, Democratic Trinamool Congress led by Ritabrata Banerjee, and the CPI.

The subsequent arrest of Milan Pradhan became another major issue in the campaign. He was arrested in connection with four murder cases dating back to the 2007 land movement and remained in custody for 12 days. The Calcutta High Court later granted him interim bail for three weeks.

After his release, Pradhan told journalists:

“Why is Suvendu Adhikari so afraid? He always describes Nandigram as the place where he became a leader. Then why has he given the ticket to an outsider?”

Despite Mamata Banerjee’s support, senior Congress leaders have acknowledged that there has been little visible Trinamool presence on the ground.

One senior Congress leader said:

“Mamata has said that she supports the Congress candidate, but there is nobody on the ground.”

Banerjee’s former local lieutenant Abu Taher has joined the rebel Trinamool faction, while Sheikh Sufian is described as being “on the run”.

Security arrangements in Nandigram have been unusually extensive. Of the 323 polling stations, 85 have been classified as sensitive, and 100 per cent webcasting is being conducted. On the eve of polling, the Election Commission also replaced Nandigram police station officer-in-charge Ajay Kumar Mishra.

Rejinagar: a sharply different contest

Rejinagar, by contrast, presents a very different political picture. The Murshidabad constituency has a 62.46 per cent Muslim population.

Its former MLA was Humayun Kabir, who won on a Congress ticket, subsequently joined the Trinamool Congress, moved to the BJP, returned to the Trinamool Congress and eventually founded his own party, the Am Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP).

In the 2026 Assembly elections, Kabir won both Rejinagar and Naoda. He won Rejinagar by a margin of 58,876 votes, but chose to retain Naoda and vacated Rejinagar, necessitating the by-election.

His son Ghulam Nabi Azad is contesting the by-election on an AJUP ticket. His principal opponents include Mamata’s Trinamool candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, Ritabrata Trinamool candidate Safiuzzaman Sheikh, Congress candidate Mohammed Abdullahil Kafi, and CPI(M) candidate Syed Asad Ali. A total of 15 candidates are contesting the seat.

Tension began in Rejinagar soon after polling started.

After casting his vote, Humayun Kabir went to his party office and became involved in an argument with the police. Officers told him that since he was neither a candidate nor a polling agent, he could not go near the polling station.

Kabir told journalists:

“The police are intimidating our workers, booth agents and voters. We will not leave the booths. There will be a direct confrontation with the police. The police are looting votes. I will not allow this to happen.”

He was subsequently detained and taken to Rejinagar police station.

Police later said he had been arrested for violating electoral rules and engaging in provocative behaviour.

Beldanga SDPO Anandajit Hor said:

“He was arrested for violating the law and engaging in provocative behaviour.”

The State Election Commission subsequently sought a report on the incident.

At 9 am, Rejinagar recorded 18.05 per cent turnout. Allegations were made that voters were being prevented from reaching polling stations. CPI(M) district secretary Zamir Molla alleged that the BJP had captured all polling stations in Mirzapur-I gram panchayat. The CPI(M) also alleged that its polling agents were not being allowed into booths 112, 113, 114 and 122 in Dadpur.

Of Rejinagar’s 315 polling stations, 239 have been classified as critical polling stations. Around 1,580 polling personnel are on duty.

The larger electoral question

The two by-elections will provide an early indication of how the political landscape has evolved since the BJP came to power in West Bengal in 2026. They will also offer an indication of public response to a government that is only five months old.

BJP state president Shamik Bhattacharya has claimed that his party will win both seats by large margins. He has said the Nandigram margin will be at least five times Shubhendu Adhikari’s previous winning margin and that the BJP candidate in Rejinagar will win comfortably.

In Rejinagar, the arrest of Humayun Kabir and allegations of vote-related irregularities have further intensified the contest.

His son Ghulam Nabi Azad told the media:

“If the election were free and transparent, they would have won 100 per cent. But votes are being looted through police terror.”

BJP candidate Shakharav Sarkar has rejected the allegation.

The Election Commission has deployed extensive security arrangements in both constituencies, including central forces, Quick Response Teams and flying squads. Of Nandigram’s 323 polling stations, 85 are classified as sensitive, while 239 of Rejinagar’s 315 booths are classified as critical. Webcasting is being conducted at all polling stations.

Nandigram has 2,016 voters aged 18–19, 2,180 voters with disabilities, 1,884 voters above the age of 85, 42 centenarians and 738 service voters.

Rejinagar has 2,445 voters aged 18–19, 3,231 voters with disabilities, 1,697 voters above 85 and 36 centenarian voters.

The results of the two by-elections, to be declared on October 9, will provide a significant snapshot of Bengal’s changing political equations.

Nandigram represents a contest shaped by the legacy of the 2007 land movement and the transformation of the Trinamool Congress. Rejinagar represents a fragmented contest involving AJUP, two Trinamool factions, Congress, CPI(M) and RSP.

The contrast between the two constituencies captures two different aspects of Bengal’s present political landscape. Nandigram, once a crucial stepping stone in the Trinamool Congress’s rise to power, is now going to the polls without the party’s familiar symbol. Rejinagar, meanwhile, is witnessing a fragmented contest in which several political forces are competing for the same electorate.

But alongside the electoral contest lies a larger question: the exclusion of large numbers of voters from the electoral rolls and the arrests of opposition candidates and political figures on polling day have generated serious debate over the conduct of the election.

The political wheel in Bengal is turning. The question is what this new turn in the state’s politics will mean for ordinary voters.