Archive · 8 Sep 2026
EC Announces October 6 Bypolls, Including Bengal’s Nandigram
The Election Commission has announced special elections for six empty seats.
Two of these seats are in West Bengal, at Nandigram and Rejinagar.
People will vote on October 6, and officials will count the votes on October 9.
The seats became empty because their earlier winners had also won other seats and resigned from one of them.
Four other contests will take place in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Assam.
Candidates can submit their names until September 16.
Electronic voting machines and paper-verification systems will be used.
Some reports say Mamata Banerjee might run in Nandigram, but her party has not confirmed it.
Reports differ about whether Humayun Kabir resigned from Rejinagar or Naoda, although most accounts say Rejinagar became vacant.
The Election Commission announced by-elections for six constituencies across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Assam.
Polling will take place on October 6, 2026, with vote counting scheduled for October 9.
West Bengal’s Nandigram and Rejinagar seats became vacant after Suvendu Adhikari and Humayun Kabir resigned after winning multiple constituencies.
The nomination process begins with a September 9 Gazette notification, followed by scrutiny on September 17 and withdrawals until September 19.
The elections will use EVMs and VVPATs, while reports speculate about Mamata Banerjee contesting Nandigram; the TMC has not confirmed this.
- Who
- The Election Commission of India, voters and candidates in six constituencies, including Suvendu Adhikari, Humayun Kabir and possible Nandigram contender Mamata Banerjee.
- What
- By-elections for five Assembly constituencies and Assam’s Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency.
- When
- Polling is scheduled for October 6, 2026, counting for October 9, and completion of the process by October 11.
- Where
- Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal; Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu; Thattanchavady in Puducherry; and Nagaon in Assam.
- Why
- The seats became vacant after sitting legislators or MPs resigned, primarily because they had won multiple constituencies or changed political affiliations.
Political possibilities
Confirmed election information
Mamata Banerjee’s possible Nandigram candidacy
Political possibilities
The Nandigram bypoll could provide Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee an opportunity to seek a return to the West Bengal Assembly.
Confirmed election information
The Trinamool Congress has not confirmed that Mamata Banerjee will contest, so her candidacy remains speculation.
BJP’s prospects in Nandigram and Rejinagar
Political possibilities
The Bharatiya Janata Party says it wants to win both seats, and Suvendu Adhikari has publicly expressed confidence about Nandigram.
Confirmed election information
The Election Commission has announced the schedule and procedures but has made no claim about which party or candidate will win.
- Total contests
- Six seats: five Assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha constituency.
- Polling date
- October 6, 2026.
- Counting date
- October 9, 2026.
- Nomination schedule
- Gazette notification on September 9; nominations close September 16; scrutiny is September 17; withdrawals close September 19.
- West Bengal seats
- Nandigram and Rejinagar.
- Other seats
- Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu, Thattanchavady in Puducherry, and Nagaon in Assam.
- Voting safeguards
- EVMs and VVPATs will be used, and the Model Code of Conduct is immediately in force in affected districts.
- Reported discrepancy
- Most reports say Humayun Kabir vacated Rejinagar after retaining Naoda, while one report says he resigned from Naoda and remained the Rejinagar MLA.
Sources
Nandigram Bypoll On October 6. Suvendu Adhikari Had Vacated This Seat
EC announces bypolls for six seats across three states; Nandigram to vote on October 6
Election Commission announces bye-elections for Bengal’s Nandigram, Rejinagar
Bengal bypolls: Nandigram, Rejinagar to vote on October 6 - Telegraph India
