Archive · 9 Oct 2026
BJP Wins Bengal Bypolls, Sweeping Nandigram and Rejinagar
People counted votes in two West Bengal by-elections, in Nandigram and Rejinagar.
The BJP candidates won both seats.
Hasirani Rath won Nandigram by a large margin over Congress candidate Milan Pradhan.
Shankharavh Sarkar won Rejinagar over AJUP candidate Golam Nabi Azad.
Rejinagar has a large Muslim electorate, but the total vote count cannot tell us how each community voted.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said minority voters supported the BJP.
Opposition parties alleged problems during polling, and the BJP rejected those claims.
The seats became vacant after elected representatives chose to keep other seats they had also won.
BJP candidates Hasirani Rath and Shankharavh Sarkar won the Nandigram and Rejinagar by-elections, respectively.
Rath defeated Congress candidate Milan Pradhan in Nandigram by 1,22,753 votes, according to the final figures reported.
Sarkar defeated AJUP candidate Golam Nabi Azad in Rejinagar by 75,816 votes; the constituency has a nearly 70 per cent Muslim electorate.
The bypolls followed Suvendu Adhikari retaining Bhabanipur instead of Nandigram and Humayun Kabir retaining Naoda instead of Rejinagar.
Adhikari claimed Muslim voters backed the BJP; reports cautioned that overall results cannot establish how individual communities voted, and the BJP rejected opposition polling-irregularity allegations.
- Who
- BJP candidates Hasirani Rath and Shankharavh Sarkar, and their main opponents Milan Pradhan and Golam Nabi Azad.
- What
- The BJP won the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly by-elections.
- When
- Polling took place on October 6; counting was held on October 9.
- Where
- Nandigram and Rejinagar, West Bengal, India.
- Why
- The seats became vacant after Suvendu Adhikari retained Bhabanipur and Humayun Kabir retained Naoda.
Opposition claims and cautions
BJP claims and response
Polling conditions
Opposition claims and cautions
Congress alleged booth capturing, intimidation and irregularities, and demanded re-polling in both constituencies.
BJP claims and response
The BJP rejected the allegations; Adhikari said the bypolls were conducted peacefully.
Minority support
Opposition claims and cautions
Aggregate results cannot establish how individual communities voted or explain the BJP's lead.
BJP claims and response
Adhikari claimed minority voters, including Bengali Muslim voters, supported the BJP.
Reasons for the BJP's advantage
Opposition claims and cautions
Reports said a divided opposition and crowded field may have helped the BJP, without proving that this caused the results.
BJP claims and response
Adhikari described the results as confirming his predictions and said the BJP had won support from minority voters.
- Nandigram result
- Hasirani Rath defeated Milan Pradhan by 1,22,753 votes in the final figures reported.
- Rejinagar result
- Shankharavh Sarkar defeated Golam Nabi Azad by 75,816 votes in the final figures reported.
- Polling date
- October 6.
- Counting date
- October 9; 15 rounds were scheduled in each constituency, though one report described 17 rounds in Nandigram.
- Rejinagar electorate
- Reports estimated that Muslims make up nearly 70 per cent of the electorate.
- Vacancies
- Nandigram became vacant after Suvendu Adhikari retained Bhabanipur; Rejinagar became vacant after Humayun Kabir retained Naoda.
- Opposition claims
- Congress alleged booth capturing, intimidation and polling irregularities and sought re-polling; the BJP rejected the allegations.
- Community voting claim
- Adhikari said Muslim voters supported the BJP; reported totals do not establish individual voters' community or voting choices.
Sources
Bengal bypolls: BJP widens leads in Nandigram, Rejinagar
Bengal bypolls: BJP consolidates gains, secures unassailable leads in Nandigram, Rejinagar
Bengal: BJP achieves unassailable lead in Nandigram, makes inroads in Muslim-majority Rejinagar
Bengal bypolls: BJP strengthens position in Nandigram, wins Rejinagar
Bengal: BJP bags politically significant Nandigram, scores shock win in Muslim-majority Rejinagar
Bengal bypolls: BJP widens leads in Nandigram, Rejinagar; Congress in second place
West Bengal bypoll results 2026: BJP grabs early lead in Nandigram, minority-heavy Rejinagar
Minority community found friend in BJP, voted for us in bypolls: Bengal CM
Bengal bypolls: BJP secures unassailable leads in Nandigram, Rejinagar
BJP Dominates Bengal Bypolls, Leads By Over 1 Lakh Votes In Nandigram
