Voters across three states and the Union Territory of Puducherry will cast their ballots on Tuesday, October 6, in six by-elections comprising five Assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha seat. The Election Commission has scheduled counting of votes for October 9.
The Assembly constituencies going to the polls are Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal, Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu, and Thattanchavady in Puducherry. The Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency in Assam will also vote on the same day.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Polling will be held on October 6, 2026.
Five Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat are involved.
West Bengal: Nandigram and Rejinagar.
Tamil Nadu: Madurantakam and Dharapuram.
Puducherry: Thattanchavady.
Assam: Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency.
The vacancies arose following the resignations of the respective sitting representatives. The Election Commission's schedule lists Maragatham Kumaravel's resignation as the reason for the vacancy in Madurantakam, P. Sathyabama's resignation in Dharapuram, N. Rangasamy's in Thattanchavady, Humayun Kabir's in Rejinagar, Suvendu Adhikari's in Nandigram and Pradyut Bordoloi's in Nagaon.
In West Bengal, Nandigram and Rejinagar are among the constituencies attracting attention ahead of polling. Nandigram became vacant after Suvendu Adhikari retained Bhabanipur following the 2026 Assembly election, while Rejinagar was vacated after Humayun Kabir retained Nowda after winning both seats.
In Tamil Nadu, polling will take place in the reserved Assembly constituencies of Madurantakam and Dharapuram. The seats fell vacant after the resignations of Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama, who subsequently joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The by-elections will fill six vacant seats across different parts of the country and provide voters in these constituencies an opportunity to elect their representatives. The contests also bring several newly vacant seats back into the electoral process only months after the 2026 elections.
In Puducherry, Thattanchavady will also vote on October 6. The seat became vacant following the resignation of N. Rangasamy after he retained another constituency. In Assam, the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat became vacant following Pradyut Bordoloi's resignation.
Campaigning for all six by-elections has ended ahead of Tuesday's polling. Polling arrangements have been put in place across the constituencies, with the Election Commission stating that EVMs and VVPATs will be used at all polling stations.
