The Election Commission of India has announced by-elections for two key West Bengal Assembly constituencies — Nandigram and Rejinagar — with polling scheduled for October 6, 2026 and counting of votes on October 9.
The announcement sets the stage for another major political contest in West Bengal, particularly in Nandigram, a constituency that has remained one of the state's most politically significant battlegrounds.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: West Bengal Assembly bypolls announced for Nandigram and Rejinagar.
Location: Nandigram in Purba Medinipur and Rejinagar in Murshidabad.
Authority/Organisation: Election Commission of India.
Action Taken: Poll schedule announced with voting on October 6 and counting on October 9.
Impact: The bypolls open a fresh political contest in two constituencies with significant political importance in Bengal.
The Nandigram seat became vacant after Suvendu Adhikari, who had won both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in the 2026 Assembly elections, chose to retain Bhabanipur and resigned from Nandigram. Adhikari had earlier defeated Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram in the 2021 Assembly election.
Rejinagar also fell vacant after Humayun Kabir, who won the seat in the 2026 Assembly election, resigned from the constituency.
The two bypolls are expected to attract significant political attention as parties prepare to field candidates and consolidate their support ahead of the contests.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The Nandigram contest carries particular political significance because of the constituency's history and its association with the BJP-TMC rivalry. The bypoll will also provide an early electoral test for the political balance in the constituency after Suvendu Adhikari's decision to retain Bhabanipur. Rejinagar, meanwhile, presents another contest in Murshidabad and could become an important indicator of the political mood in the region.
