# Campaigning Concludes for Nandigram and Rejinagar By-Elections Ahead of October 6 Voting

> High-decibel campaigning ended for the Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly by-polls in West Bengal, with voting set for October 6 and counting on October 9.

**Type:** article · **Category:** West Bengal · **Published:** 2026-10-04 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/west-bengal/nandigram-aura-rejinagar-upachunava-ka-prachara-samapta-6-aktubara-ko-votinga-aura-9-ko-natije-42901 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Nandigram By-Election, Rejinagar Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, West Bengal Politics, Hasirani Rath, Milan Pradhan, Assembly By-Elections 2026

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.

## What this means for you
The by-elections will directly determine the new legislative representation for the electors of Nandigram and Rejinagar.

- **Across West Bengal:** The outcome of these two seats will gauge the political balance of power and organizational strength across party lines. Citizens across the state will witness the resulting shifts once votes are counted on October 9.
- **In Nandigram and Rejinagar:** Registered voters across both assembly constituencies must cast their ballots at designated polling booths on October 6. The conclusion of the election will provide local residents with newly elected legislators to handle developmental concerns.
- **Voter Identification:** Electors must carry their official voter identification card or commission-approved alternate photo identity documents to cast their vote on polling day. Stringent security arrangements will be deployed around all local polling stations on October 6.
- **Model Code and Public Order:** With campaigning officially drawn to a close, non-local political campaigners must leave the constituencies to maintain public order. Local residents are required to adhere to election administration protocols to ensure peaceful polling.

## Why this happened
These by-elections were necessitated due to statutory requirements after winning lawmakers vacated duplicate legislative seats.

- **Vacation of Dual Seats:** Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari secured victories in both Nandigram and Bhabanipur during the 2026 assembly elections, ultimately choosing to retain Bhabanipur and resign from Nandigram. Simultaneously, AJUP leader Humayun Kabir won both Nowda and Rejinagar, retaining Nowda and vacating Rejinagar.
- **Political Realignments and Coalitions:** The vacant seats triggered fierce inter-party competition as rival formations scrambled to consolidate influence. The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction backed Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, while the BJP fielded Hasirani Rath, the mother of a deceased party associate.
- **Legal Wrangles and Bail Rulings:** Congress candidate Milan Pradhan secured High Court bail just days before the close of campaigning after being held in custody over 2007 protest cases. Concurrently, a legal petition questioning Hasirani Rath's age eligibility was dismissed by the court, allowing the election to proceed as scheduled.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. When will voting take place in Nandigram and Rejinagar?
Voting across both assembly constituencies will take place on October 6, followed by the counting of votes on October 9.

### 2. Why is a by-election being held in Nandigram?
The seat fell vacant after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari resigned from Nandigram to retain his Bhabanipur assembly seat.

### 3. Who vacated the Rejinagar assembly seat?
The seat was vacated by AJUP chief Humayun Kabir after he decided to retain his Nowda seat following wins in both constituencies.

### 4. Who are the key candidates from the BJP and the Congress in Nandigram?
The BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath, while the Congress has nominated Milan Pradhan.

### 5. Why was Congress nominee Milan Pradhan arrested before the election?
He was arrested on September 18 in connection with six cases dating back to the 2007 Nandigram anti-land acquisition movement before securing bail.

### 6. Why did TMC candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdraw her nomination?
She withdrew her candidacy following a meeting with Suvendu Adhikari, after which the TMC faction backed the Congress candidate.

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