ECI replaces Nandigram inspector-in-charge a day before bypoll
Synopsis
The Election Commission of India pulled a last-minute move in Nandigram — replacing the police station's inspector-in-charge without explanation just 24 hours before polling. With 71 CAPF companies deployed, nearly a quarter of booths flagged sensitive, and a BJP candidate whose son was killed in political violence, this is one of West Bengal's most charged bypolls in recent memory.
Key Takeaways
The ECI ordered the immediate replacement of Nandigram Police Station IC Ajay Kumar Mishra with Debasish Sarkar on 5 October 2026 , one day before polling.
Bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar are scheduled for Tuesday ; counting is on 9 October .
71 CAPF companies deployed — 37 in Nandigram and 34 in Rejinagar — along with 15,119 state police personnel .
Nearly 24% of polling booths flagged sensitive: 323 in Nandigram and 315 in Rejinagar.
BJP candidate Hasirani Rath is the mother of slain political worker Chandranath Rath ; Congress candidate Milan Pradhan is campaigning on interim bail.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday, 5 October 2026, ordered the immediate replacement of the inspector-in-charge (IC) of Nandigram Police Station in East Midnapore district, West Bengal, just one day before the high-stakes Nandigram Assembly bypoll on Tuesday. The abrupt transfer has drawn considerable attention, coming at a critical juncture in the election process.
The Transfer Order
Ajay Kumar Mishra, who was serving as the IC of Nandigram Police Station, has been replaced by Debasish Sarkar, previously the IC of the traffic control room in East Midnapore district. In a statement issued on Monday afternoon, the Commission directed that the transfer be implemented immediately and a compliance report be submitted by Monday evening. The ECI did not disclose the reason for the sudden change.
Security Deployment Across Two Bypolls
The bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar in Murshidabad district are scheduled for Tuesday, with counting set for 9 October. Extensive security arrangements are in place, with 71 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) deployed — 37 in Nandigram and 34 in Rejinagar. An additional 15,119 state police personnel will be deployed across both constituencies, according to election authorities.
Nearly 24 per cent of polling booths in both constituencies have been identified as sensitive, with 323 such booths in Nandigram and 315 in Rejinagar. The scale of the security mobilisation underscores the volatile political history of both seats.
Why the Nandigram Bypoll Was Called
The Nandigram bypoll was necessitated after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who had won both the Nandigram and Bhabanipur seats in this year's Assembly elections, chose to retain Bhabanipur and vacated the Nandigram seat. The constituency has historically been a flashpoint in West Bengal politics, lending the bypoll outsized significance beyond its single-seat stakes.
Key Candidates
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Hasirani Rath, mother of slain Adhikari aide Chandranath Rath, as its Nandigram candidate. Chandranath Rath was killed in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, on 6 May. The Congress candidate is Milan Pradhan, who returned to campaigning after securing interim bail from the Calcutta High Court in connection with cases dating back to the 2007 Nandigram agitation.
In Rejinagar, the bypoll was triggered after AJUP leader Humayun Kabir, who won both Rejinagar and Naoda, chose to retain Naoda. All eyes will now be on Tuesday's polling and whether the ECI's last-minute security reshuffle holds the peace.
Point of View
Not a formality.
NationPress
5 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the ECI replace the Nandigram police inspector-in-charge before the bypoll?
The ECI ordered the immediate replacement of Ajay Kumar Mishra with Debasish Sarkar on 5 October, a day before the Nandigram Assembly bypoll, but did not publicly disclose the reason. The timing, just 24 hours before polling, has drawn significant attention.
When is the Nandigram Assembly bypoll and when will votes be counted?
The Nandigram bypoll is scheduled for Tuesday, 7 October 2026. Vote counting is set for 9 October. The Rejinagar bypoll in Murshidabad district is being held on the same day.
Why was the Nandigram bypoll called?
The bypoll was necessitated after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who won both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in this year's Assembly elections, chose to retain Bhabanipur and vacated the Nandigram seat.
Who are the key candidates in the Nandigram bypoll?
The BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath, mother of slain political worker Chandranath Rath. The Congress candidate is Milan Pradhan, who is contesting after receiving interim bail from the Calcutta High Court in cases related to the 2007 Nandigram agitation.
How large is the security deployment for the Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls?
A total of 71 CAPF companies have been deployed — 37 in Nandigram and 34 in Rejinagar — alongside 15,119 state police personnel. Nearly 24% of polling booths in both constituencies have been identified as sensitive.
