High-voltage election campaigning came to an end on Sunday evening across the Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly constituencies in West Bengal. Both seats will go to the polls on October 6, with the counting of ballots scheduled for October 9. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress, and several other political outfits expended their full organizational strength during the final hours of the campaign to sway undecided voters in these high-stakes by-elections.
Suvendu Adhikari Leads Foot March in Nandigram
In Nandigram, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari personally spearheaded a foot march in support of BJP nominee Hasirani Rath. Addressing the public during the campaign, Adhikari pointed to demographic dynamics in the area, stating that there are 7 specific booths in the constituency where minority community voters form the majority. He asserted that in earlier years, BJP party workers were actively prevented from even stepping foot inside these specific localities, but the ground reality has undergone a marked transformation this time around.
Adhikari remarked that residents in these pockets are now eager to connect with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development initiatives and the broader agenda of the state's 'double engine' administration. He stated that every individual voter holds immense value in a democratic setup and that the BJP is seeking backing across all demographic segments. Adhikari claimed that he spent approximately one to two hours actively campaigning in the area, drawing substantial crowds. He added that people ranging from young children to senior citizens came forward to welcome him, fueling his optimism that the party will receive broad-based electoral support.
Congress Raises Fairness Doubts and Appeals to National Media
In stark contrast, the Congress party sounded alarms over the integrity of the polling exercise. West Bengal Congress chief Subhankar Sarkar voiced apprehension that the upcoming by-polls might not be conducted in a free and fair manner. He alleged that the BJP is deploying every available measure to secure victory and claimed that undue pressure is being exerted on media professionals. Sarkar urged journalists and media crews from across the country to descend upon Nandigram on voting day to monitor the balloting process firsthand and deter potential electoral malpractice.
Milan Pradhan Steps Up Campaign Drive Following Bail
Congress candidate Milan Pradhan rapidly accelerated his outreach after securing regular bail from the Calcutta High Court on Thursday. Taking to the campaign trail in the remaining days, Pradhan traversed the constituency alongside state Congress chief Subhankar Sarkar and other senior party leaders to connect with voters.
Pradhan was taken into custody on September 18 in connection with six separate criminal cases stemming from the 2007 Nandigram anti-land acquisition agitation. Following his release from judicial custody, the candidate made a concentrated effort to cover nearly the entirety of the Nandigram constituency within a compressed timeframe.
TMC Faction Backs Congress Candidate and Legal Challenge to Hasirani Rath
The electoral contest in Nandigram took a surprising turn when the Trinamool Congress (TMC) faction led by Mamata Banerjee decided to extend its backing to Congress contender Milan Pradhan. This development unfolded after the official TMC candidate, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, withdrew her nomination following a meeting with Suvendu Adhikari.
Meanwhile, the candidacy of BJP contender Hasirani Rath faced scrutiny inside the courtroom. Rath is the mother of Chandranath Rath, a close associate of Suvendu Adhikari who was murdered two days after the declaration of the West Bengal assembly election results. The Congress challenged Hasirani Rath's nomination before the Calcutta High Court, alleging an age discrepancy in her official submission. However, the legal challenge failed to gain traction and was dismissed by the court.
Multi-Cornered Contests in Nandigram and Rejinagar
The race in Nandigram features several contenders beyond the principal rivalry between the BJP and the Congress. The Left parties, the Indian Secular Front (ISF), and the Democratic Trinamool Congress headed by Ritabrata Banerjee have fielded their own candidates, turning the seat into a crowded multi-cornered fight.
A similarly fractured electoral landscape exists in the Rejinagar assembly seat in Murshidabad district. Here, candidates from the BJP, the Congress, the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), and both rival factions of the TMC are locking horns. The constituency has witnessed earlier friction as well, with an independent candidate being arrested last month in connection with a five-year-old case involving clashes between two rival factions during the 2021 assembly elections.
Origins of the Vacancies in Both Constituencies
The by-elections in both seats were triggered by resignations following multi-seat victories in general elections. The Nandigram seat fell vacant after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari tendered his resignation, having successfully contested both Nandigram and the Bhabanipur constituency. Adhikari opted to retain Bhabanipur, necessitating a fresh vote in Nandigram. Similarly, the Rejinagar seat fell vacant when AJUP chief Humayun Kabir decided to retain his Nowda seat. Kabir had won both Rejinagar and Nowda in the 2026 assembly elections before relinquishing Rejinagar.
