Bengal bypolls: BJP leads by 19,000+ in Nandigram, 21,000+ in Rejinagar after 2 rounds
Synopsis
After just two of fifteen counting rounds in West Bengal's 6 October bypolls, the BJP holds leads of over 19,000 votes in Nandigram and 21,000 in Rejinagar — with both Trinamool factions on course to forfeit deposits. The most striking detail: Rejinagar, where minorities make up 65% of voters, is trending heavily toward the BJP.
Key Takeaways
BJP leads by over 19,200 votes in Nandigram after two rounds of counting on 9 October .
BJP leads by more than 21,000 votes in Rejinagar after the same two rounds.
Both Trinamool Congress factions — Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and Democratic Trinamool Congress — are trailing and likely to forfeit deposits.
Over 65% of Rejinagar voters belong to the minority community, making the BJP's early lead there politically significant.
A total of 15 rounds of counting are scheduled; 13 more rounds remain.
Congress candidate Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi has alleged the bypoll was a 'farcical exercise'.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has surged to commanding leads in both Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies in West Bengal after two rounds of counting in the 6 October bypolls. As of the latest count on 9 October, BJP candidates are ahead by over 19,000 votes in Nandigram and more than 21,000 votes in Rejinagar, with 15 rounds of counting scheduled in both seats.
Constituency-wise Leads
In Nandigram, BJP's Hasirani Rath leads Congress's Milan Pradhan by over 19,200 votes. The Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate Sanitgopal Giri occupies third place.
In Rejinagar, BJP's Sakharav Sarkar is ahead of Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP)'s Golam Nabi Azad by more than 21,000 votes. Congress candidate Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi, who had briefly held second place in the first round, has since slipped to third after two rounds of counting.
Trinamool Factions Trail Far Behind
Both factions of the Trinamool Congress — the Mamata All India Trinamool Congress, led by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and the Democratic Trinamool Congress, led by Ritabrata Banerjee — trail well behind the frontrunners in both seats. Observers note they are likely to forfeit their deposits.
The Mamata All India Trinamool Congress has not fielded a candidate in Nandigram. In Rejinagar, the faction's candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury is placed sixth, while Democratic Trinamool Congress candidate Safiuzzaman Sheikh is seventh. In Nandigram, Democratic Trinamool Congress candidate Ehtesamul Haque holds fifth place.
Significance of the Rejinagar Trend
Political observers have flagged the Rejinagar numbers as particularly noteworthy, given that more than 65 per cent of the constituency's voters belong to the minority community. One city-based political observer linked the early trend to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's recent public assurance that his government would not pursue community-based development policies.
'This trend shows that even a section of the minority community in West Bengal has decided to stay with the ruling dispensation keeping in mind the recent assurance by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari that the state government led by him will not pursue community-based development activities,' the observer said.
Opposition Disputes the Trend
Congress candidate from Rejinagar, Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi, rejected the trends outright, calling them a reflection of what he described as a 'farcical exercise' on 6 October. Kafi also noted that the figures mirrored Chief Minister Adhikari's own public prediction made earlier in the week. With 13 more rounds still to be counted, the final margins could shift, though the early BJP leads are sizeable.
Point of View
If they hold, could rewrite conventional wisdom about minority bloc voting in Bengal. A BJP lead of 21,000 votes in a constituency where minorities form 65% of the electorate is not a statistical anomaly — it signals either a meaningful shift in community preferences or serious questions about the poll process, as Congress is alleging. Chief Minister Adhikari's deliberate messaging against community-based development schemes appears to have been a calculated electoral move, and early data suggests it may be landing. Mainstream coverage is focused on the aggregate leads; the more consequential story is what Rejinagar reveals about the fracturing of Bengal's minority consolidation — long the bedrock of Trinamool dominance.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the BJP's leads after two rounds of counting in the West Bengal bypolls?
After two rounds of counting, the BJP leads by over 19,200 votes in Nandigram and more than 21,000 votes in Rejinagar in the 6 October West Bengal bypolls. A total of 15 rounds are scheduled.
Who are the BJP candidates in Nandigram and Rejinagar?
In Nandigram, the BJP candidate is Hasirani Rath, who leads Congress's Milan Pradhan. In Rejinagar, BJP's Sakharav Sarkar is ahead of Aam Janata Unnayan Party's Golam Nabi Azad.
Why is the Rejinagar bypoll result considered significant?
Rejinagar is significant because over 65% of its voters belong to the minority community, making a large early BJP lead in the seat politically notable. Observers have linked the trend to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's recent assurance against community-based development policies.
How are the Trinamool Congress factions performing in these bypolls?
Both Trinamool factions — the Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the Democratic Trinamool Congress — are trailing well behind the frontrunners in both constituencies and are reportedly on course to forfeit their security deposits.
Has the opposition raised any concerns about the bypoll process?
Yes, Congress candidate Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi from Rejinagar has called the 6 October bypoll a 'farcical exercise', disputing the counting trends and alleging the result reflects irregularities rather than genuine voter preference.
