Voting in the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly by-elections in West Bengal was marked by allegations of polling irregularities, clashes and political confrontation on Tuesday, even as authorities maintained that security arrangements were in place to ensure a peaceful vote. Polling began at 7 a.m., with counting scheduled for October 9.
The two bypolls are the first major electoral contests since the BJP came to power in West Bengal in the 2026 Assembly elections.
Nandigram fell vacant after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari retained another seat, while Rejinagar was vacated after Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief Humayun Kabir retained Nowda after winning both constituencies.
Nandigram: Congress alleges agents were removed
In Nandigram, Congress candidate Milan Pradhan alleged that his polling agents were being prevented from sitting inside booths. The complaint led to a verbal confrontation between Pradhan and BJP workers in Sonachura.
Pradhan argued that the absence of party workers at a booth could not be used as a reason to prevent them from performing their election duties. A BJP worker reportedly responded by asking, “If you don't have players, how will you play?” Pradhan replied that political workers are not necessarily present everywhere at the beginning and can join later.
The BJP's Nandigram candidate Hasirani Rath, however, described the voting process as smooth. “The voting is going well,” she said while beginning her polling-day activities.
The allegations were not limited to one side. Reports from the constituency also referred to claims of voter intimidation and other irregularities, while polling officials said voting was proceeding peacefully at individual booths with security and webcasting arrangements in place.
CM Suvendu Adhikari votes, predicts record margin
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari cast his vote at a polling station in Nandigram and expressed confidence about turnout.
After voting, Adhikari said, “I hope the turnout will reach 85 per cent.” Referring to his previous electoral performance in the constituency, he added that he hoped the earlier margin would be surpassed.
The Chief Minister's remarks came amid competing claims about the conduct of polling in the constituency. The administration said complaints were being examined and that preventive action could be taken where necessary.
Humayun Kabir detained in Rejinagar
The more dramatic scenes unfolded in Rejinagar, where AJUP chief and Nowda MLA Humayun Kabir was detained after a confrontation with police at his party office.
Kabir had earlier alleged that police deployment was being used to intimidate voters and had accused the authorities of interfering with the polling process. Police said Kabir was neither a candidate nor a polling agent and had been taken into custody after allegedly violating restrictions during polling.
The AJUP chief had also criticised the conduct of the election in strong terms. Questioning the need for the bypoll, he said, “What was the need to conduct the election like this?”
Kabir's son Golam Nabi Azad is contesting the Rejinagar seat on an AJUP ticket. The constituency has a multi-cornered contest involving BJP candidate Shakharav Sarkar, TMC candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, Congress nominee Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi and CPI(M)'s Syed Asad Ali, among others.
Opposition demands fresh polling
Opposition parties raised a series of allegations from Rejinagar, including claims that polling agents were removed from booths and that voters faced difficulties during the process.
Congress candidate Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi staged a protest outside the Rejinagar police station and demanded cancellation of the polling and fresh voting in the constituency.
Congress leaders also alleged that several of their polling agents had been forced out of booths. CPI(M) workers raised similar complaints concerning polling arrangements in parts of the constituency.
TMC candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury also alleged that a large number of his party's polling agents had been removed. He claimed that only a small fraction of the agents appointed across the constituency remained at their assigned booths.
Meanwhile, BJP's Rejinagar candidate Shakharav Sarkar defended the police action against Kabir, referring to earlier statements attributed to the AJUP leader about possible violence on polling day.
Sarkar alleged that Kabir was seeking to create disorder and said, “He wants to create riots. He abused the police. The police arrested him. What else?”
Adhikari, meanwhile, responded to the arrest by stressing the principle of equal application of the law: “The law is equal for everyone. Everyone has to follow the law.”
The Election Commission and local administration deployed extensive security measures in both constituencies. Nandigram has 323 polling stations and around 2.67 lakh electors, while Rejinagar has 315 polling stations and around 2.57 lakh voters. Webcasting facilities have been made available at all booths in both seats.
By 11 a.m., turnout stood at 43.95% in Nandigram and 38.71% in Rejinagar, according to election-related reports. By 1 p.m., the combined turnout across the two constituencies had risen substantially, with Nandigram recording 60.32% and Rejinagar 56.43%.
