Bengal bypolls: 78.9% turnout at Nandigram, Rejinagar amid tension and malpractice claims
Synopsis
West Bengal's twin bypolls at Nandigram and Rejinagar wrapped up with near-record bypoll turnout of close to 80%, but the day was marred by a sitting legislator's arrest, repolling demands from Congress and TMC, and a sharp BJP counter-denial — making the vote count as politically charged as the polling itself.
Key Takeaways
Polling concluded at 6 pm Tuesday in Nandigram (East Midnapore) and Rejinagar (Murshidabad) bypolls in West Bengal .
Average turnout stood at 78.90% by 5 pm — Nandigram at 79.39% and Rejinagar at 78.42% — with the final figure expected to cross 80% .
Humayun Kabir , founder-legislator of the AJUP , was arrested for allegedly intimidating voters and manhandling an on-duty police officer.
Congress and TMC demanded total repolling in Rejinagar and at select booths in Nandigram , citing electoral malpractices.
BJP rejected the allegations, saying voters participated in a 'festive mood' throughout the day.
Polling for the bypolls to Nandigram Assembly constituency in East Midnapore district and Rejinagar Assembly constituency in Murshidabad district of West Bengal concluded at 6 pm on Tuesday, with scattered reports of voter intimidation, tension, and alleged electoral malpractices emerging from both seats throughout the day.
Turnout Figures
According to a source from the office of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), the average polling percentage in both constituencies stood at 78.90% as of 5 pm Tuesday — with Rejinagar at 78.42% and Nandigram at 79.39%. Voting continued beyond 6 pm at several booths where voters were still queued up, meaning the final tally is expected to be released either late Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
'But surely the average polling percentage will cross the 80 per cent mark, which is exceptional as far bypoll standards are concerned,' the CEO office source said. Such a figure would mark an unusually high turnout for a bypoll in the state.
Key Incident: Legislator Arrested
The most significant development of the day came in the opening hour of polling, when Humayun Kabir, founder and sitting legislator of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), was arrested. He faces charges of influencing voters, threatening police personnel, and allegedly grabbing an on-duty police officer by the collar — a confrontation that drew sharp attention from election observers on the ground.
Repolling Demands and BJP's Rebuttal
By the close of polling, both the Indian National Congress (Congress) and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) had demanded a complete repolling across Rejinagar and at select booths in Nandigram, citing alleged malpractices.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state leadership dismissed these allegations outright, asserting that voters in both constituencies participated in a 'festive mood,' and that the high turnout numbers vindicated the conduct of the elections.
Candidates React, Congress Levels Serious Allegation
Hasirani Rath, the BJP candidate from Nandigram, and Shakharav Sarkar, the party's candidate from Rejinagar, both expressed confidence of winning their respective seats with comfortable margins.
However, former West Bengal Congress president and five-time Lok Sabha member Adhikar Ranjan Chowdhury alleged that the Congress candidate had a strong chance of victory in Rejinagar, which he claimed prompted a crackdown. 'That is why the ruling BJP supporters, assisted by the police, unleashed massive electoral malpractices at Rejinagar,' Chowdhury said. The BJP has not responded specifically to his remarks.
What Happens Next
The final polling percentage for both constituencies will be confirmed once all straggler votes are counted. Repolling petitions, if filed formally, would be addressed by the Election Commission. The results, once declared, will have significant implications for the political balance in these two keenly contested seats — and could set the tone for upcoming electoral contests in West Bengal.
Point of View
On the surface, looks like a democratic success story — but the simultaneous demands for repolling from two opposition parties, the arrest of a sitting legislator, and direct allegations of police complicity tell a murkier story. West Bengal's electoral contests have a well-documented pattern of poll-day confrontations, and the fact that both Congress and TMC — ordinarily rivals — are aligned on repolling demands adds credibility to concerns about booth-level conduct. The BJP's dismissal, framed entirely around high turnout, sidesteps the substance of those allegations. Until the Election Commission independently reviews the complaints, the integrity question will shadow whatever result emerges.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the polling percentage in the Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls?
As of 5 pm on Tuesday, the average turnout in both constituencies was 78.90% — Nandigram recorded 79.39% and Rejinagar 78.42%. The final figure is expected to cross 80% once votes cast after 6 pm are tallied.
Why have Congress and TMC demanded repolling in Rejinagar?
Both the Congress and the TMC have alleged widespread electoral malpractices and voter intimidation in Rejinagar, and partial repolling at certain Nandigram booths. Former West Bengal Congress president Adhikar Ranjan Chowdhury alleged that BJP supporters, aided by police, resorted to malpractices because the Congress candidate stood a strong chance of winning.
Who was arrested during the West Bengal bypolls on Tuesday?
Humayun Kabir, the founder and sitting legislator of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), was arrested in the first hour of polling on charges of influencing voters, threatening police personnel, and allegedly grabbing an on-duty police officer by the collar.
What did the BJP say about the bypolls?
The BJP state leadership rejected all allegations of malpractice, stating that voters in both Nandigram and Rejinagar participated enthusiastically throughout the day. The party pointed to the high turnout as evidence that polling was conducted smoothly.
When will the bypoll results for Nandigram and Rejinagar be declared?
The final polling percentage is expected to be confirmed by Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. The Election Commission has not yet announced a results date, though any formal repolling petitions would need to be adjudicated before results can be finalised.
