Archive · 6 Oct 2026
West Bengal Bypolls See Voting Under Heavy Security
People voted in two West Bengal Assembly by-elections, in Nandigram and Rejinagar.
Voting started at 7 a.m.
and was due to end at 6 p.m.
Many security personnel were deployed, and every polling booth was to be webcast.
The reports give different details about sensitive booths and police numbers: one says 85 sensitive booths in Nandigram, while another lists 323 there.
The BJP, Congress and other parties are contesting, and a candidate from Mamata Banerjee’s party withdrew in Nandigram.
Rejinagar’s contest is called six-cornered, although seven parties are named.
The seats needed new elections after their previous representatives kept other Assembly seats.
Results are scheduled for October 9.
One report says police found explosives in Rejinagar and made preventive arrests.
Voting began at 7 a.m. Tuesday in Nandigram and Rejinagar and was scheduled to continue until 6 p.m.; results are due October 9.
A total of 71 companies of central forces were deployed: 37 in Nandigram and 34 in Rejinagar; one report also cites 15,119 state police personnel, though its constituency figures total only 1,519.
All booths were to have webcasting and central-force coverage; reports identify 323 booths in Nandigram and 315 in Rejinagar, while one calls these sensitive and another gives only 85 sensitive booths in Nandigram.
Nandigram features BJP, Congress, Democratic Trinamool Congress and CPI candidates after Mamata Banerjee’s TMC nominee withdrew; Rejinagar’s listed field includes seven parties despite being described as a six-cornered contest.
The seats became vacant after Suvendu Adhikari retained Bhabanipur instead of Nandigram and Humayun Kabir retained Naoda instead of Rejinagar; reports also describe explosives discovered and preventive arrests in Rejinagar.
- Who
- Voters and candidates in Nandigram and Rejinagar, West Bengal.
- What
- By-elections for two Assembly seats, held with extensive security arrangements.
- When
- Tuesday; voting was reported to run from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Results are scheduled for October 9; the articles do not give the calendar date for Tuesday.
- Where
- Nandigram in East Midnapore (also called Purba Medinipur) district and Rejinagar in Murshidabad district, West Bengal.
- Why
- The seats became vacant after Suvendu Adhikari retained Bhabanipur and Humayun Kabir retained Naoda, rather than Nandigram and Rejinagar, respectively.
Election dynamics and security
Competing interpretations and reports
Nandigram race
Election dynamics and security
One report says Mamata Banerjee backed Congress nominee Milan Pradhan after her party’s nominee withdrew, and describes the contest as politically symbolic.
Competing interpretations and reports
Another says observers expected a possible BJP cakewalk after the withdrawal, while noting a potential sympathy effect for BJP candidate Hasi Rani Rath.
Rejinagar contest
Election dynamics and security
The reports describe a six-cornered race.
Competing interpretations and reports
The party lists name seven participants: BJP, Aam Janata Unnayan Party, Congress, Mamata All India Trinamool Congress, Democratic Trinamool Congress, CPI(M) and RSP.
Security figures
Election dynamics and security
One report says 85 of Nandigram’s 323 booths were sensitive.
Competing interpretations and reports
Another labels 323 booths in Nandigram and 315 in Rejinagar sensitive; the reported state-police total of 15,119 also conflicts with local figures totaling 1,519.
- Central-force deployment
- 71 companies: 37 in Nandigram and 34 in Rejinagar.
- State police
- One report states 15,119 overall but gives 819 for Rejinagar and 700 for Nandigram, which total 1,519.
- Polling hours
- 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday.
- Booths and webcasting
- 323 polling stations in Nandigram and 315 in Rejinagar; reports say all booths would have webcasting.
- Sensitive booths
- One report identifies 85 in Nandigram; another describes 323 in Nandigram and 315 in Rejinagar as sensitive.
- Electors
- One report gives 266,419 voters in Nandigram and 256,546 in Rejinagar; another rounds these to 2.67 lakh and 2.57 lakh.
- Results
- Scheduled for October 9.
- Rejinagar security operation
- A report says police found about eight kilograms of explosives, filed 78 cases under non-bailable sections and arrested 99 people as a precaution.
Sources
Bengal bypolls: Nandigram, Rejinagar voting on Tuesday under heavy security cover
Bengal bypolls: Nandigram, Rejinagar voting on Tuesday under heavy security cover
Bengal bypolls: Voting peacefully underway in Nandigram, Rejinagar
