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Nandigram Bypoll Tests BJP, Mamata-Congress Ties and Electoral Rolls
Nandigram is holding a new election because Suvendu Adhikari gave up the seat.
He had also won another seat and chose to keep that one.
Congress candidate Milan Pradhan is campaigning after receiving temporary bail from the Calcutta High Court.
Mamata Banerjee’s faction is supporting Pradhan after withdrawing its own candidate.
The BJP candidate is Hansirani Rath, whose late son was a personal assistant to Adhikari.
Nandigram is important because Banerjee once lost the seat there to Adhikari.
The election is also a test for the BJP government in West Bengal.
People are debating local services and whether voter-list appeals have been handled properly.
Voting is scheduled for October 6, with results due on October 9.
The Nandigram bypoll was triggered after Suvendu Adhikari vacated the seat.
Congress candidate Milan Pradhan received interim bail to campaign until October 20.
Mamata Banerjee’s faction withdrew its candidate and backed Pradhan after a meeting with Adhikari.
The contest is significant because Banerjee previously lost Nandigram to Adhikari in 2021.
More than 6,000 electoral-roll revision appeals were reportedly pending before the vote.
- Who
- Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, BJP candidate Hansirani Rath, the Mamata Banerjee faction, and Suvendu Adhikari are central to the contest.
- What
- A by-election is being held for the Nandigram assembly seat.
- Where
- Nandigram assembly constituency in Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal.
- When
- Campaigning ends October 4; polling is October 6 and counting is October 9.
- Why
- The bypoll became necessary after Suvendu Adhikari vacated Nandigram after winning both Nandigram and Bhabanipur.
Congress-Mamata Faction
BJP and Contest Rivals
Nature of the contest
Congress-Mamata Faction
Milan Pradhan said the main fight was between Congress and the BJP, while Mamata Banerjee’s faction backed his candidacy.
BJP and Contest Rivals
The article describes the race as a multi-cornered contest, although the BJP’s candidate continued campaigning.
Campaign priorities
Congress-Mamata Faction
Pradhan emphasized local deprivation, including limited piped water and the absence of several colleges and an industrial training institute.
BJP and Contest Rivals
The BJP campaign was represented by Hansirani Rath, but the article does not specify her policy positions.
Electoral rolls
Congress-Mamata Faction
The pending appeals over Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls kept alleged voter deletions at the center of the campaign.
BJP and Contest Rivals
The article does not provide a detailed response from the BJP or another opposing side on the electoral-roll issue.
Key facts
- Polling date
- October 6, 2026
- Counting date
- October 9, 2026
- Campaign deadline
- October 4, 2026
- Congress candidate
- Milan Pradhan
- BJP candidate
- Hansirani Rath
- Pending electoral-roll appeals
- More than 6,000 Special Intensive Revision appeals were reportedly pending
- Legal development
- The Calcutta High Court granted Pradhan interim bail until October 20
Quotes
Milan Pradhan
Congress candidate contesting the Nandigram Assembly by-election
“The people of Nandigram are deprived. Even today, people here drink pond water due to the lack of piped water supply. Nandigram lacks a general college, a technical college, a nursing college and an ITI college. For 20 years, political change has centred around Nandigram, yet the region remains neglected.”
livemint.com
Sources
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