Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Counting Begins in Bengal Bypolls, Testing BJP After Power
People are counting votes from two special elections in West Bengal.
The seats are Nandigram and Rejinagar.
Counting began Friday morning, with postal votes handled before votes from electronic machines.
The count is planned to take 15 rounds.
Many people voted in both places on Tuesday.
Opposition parties said there were problems at some polling places, but the BJP disagreed.
The Election Commission said voting was mostly peaceful.
The results will show how the BJP does in its first election test since becoming the state’s ruling party.
They will not change which party controls the government.
Vote counting began at 8 a.m. Friday for the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly by-elections.
Officials began with postal ballots and Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballots before counting EVM votes; counting is scheduled for 15 rounds.
Turnout on Tuesday was 80.89% in Nandigram and 80.08% in Rejinagar.
Opposition parties alleged intimidation and polling irregularities and sought fresh polling; the BJP rejected the claims, while the Election Commission described polling as “more or less peaceful.”
The results are being watched as the BJP’s first electoral test in West Bengal since taking power, though they will not affect its state-government majority.
- Who
- Candidates from the BJP, TMC factions, Congress, CPI(M) and Aam Janata Unnayan Party are contesting the Nandigram and Rejinagar seats.
- What
- Votes are being counted in two West Bengal Assembly by-elections.
- When
- Counting began at 8 a.m. Friday; polling took place Tuesday.
- Where
- Nandigram and Rejinagar, West Bengal, India.
- Why
- The by-elections were required after the seats became vacant; the results are also being watched as the BJP’s first electoral test since taking power in the state.
Opposition parties
BJP and Election Commission
Conduct of polling
Opposition parties
Opposition parties alleged voter intimidation, booth-level irregularities and removal of their polling agents, and demanded fresh polling.
BJP and Election Commission
The BJP said polling was peaceful; the Election Commission characterized it as “more or less peaceful.”
- Counting began
- 8 a.m. Friday
- Seats
- Nandigram and Rejinagar
- Counting process
- Postal ballots and ETPB votes first, followed by EVM votes
- Scheduled rounds
- 15 rounds at each seat
- Nandigram turnout
- 80.89%
- Rejinagar turnout
- 80.08%
- West Bengal Assembly
- 294 seats; the article says the BJP won 207
- Election Commission assessment
- Polling was described as “more or less peaceful”