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West Bengal Bypolls 2026: Nandigram and Rejinagar Reshaped by TMC Split, Arrests and Candidate U-Turns
Haripriya 22 Sept 2026 8 min read 91 views
West Bengal is heading towards Assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar on October 6, 2026, with counting scheduled for October 9. What began as two closely watched bypolls has developed into a politically complex contest following the split within the Trinamool Congress, candidate withdrawals, arrests, changes involving election symbols and competing claims from political parties.
The developments have placed both constituencies at the centre of West Bengal's political debate following the 2026 Assembly election. The Election (opens in a new tab) Commission had scheduled the polling for October 6, with the nomination process followed by scrutiny and a September 19 deadline for withdrawal of nominations.
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The Nandigram seat fell vacant after BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari chose to retain Bhabanipur after winning both constituencies in the 2026 Assembly election. Rejinagar became vacant after Humayun Kabir, leader of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), retained the Nawda seat after winning both Nawda and Rejinagar.
The vacancies triggered the Election Commission's decision to hold bypolls in the two constituencies. The contests are being watched particularly closely because they come soon after the 2026 Assembly election and amid a major political reorganisation in West Bengal.
Nandigram: Mamata Banerjee Backs Congress
Nandigram has witnessed one of the most significant developments of the bypoll campaign after the candidate backed by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress faction, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, withdrew from the contest.
Following her withdrawal, Mamata Banerjee announced support for Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, describing Congress as a natural alliance partner. The move changed the shape of the Nandigram contest, where the BJP, Congress, the rival TMC faction and the Left are competing.
The development is notable because the relationship between the Trinamool Congress and Congress in West Bengal has historically involved both cooperation and competition. Banerjee's decision to support the Congress candidate in Nandigram has therefore attracted considerable political attention.
However, the contest was further complicated when Milan Pradhan was arrested in connection with old cases dating back to the 2007 Nandigram land-acquisition agitation. He was subsequently remanded to judicial custody until October 3. Police said the arrest was connected to long-pending non-bailable warrants, while Pradhan's legal team questioned aspects of the case and the timing of the action.
The arrest has become a major political issue. Congress leaders have criticised the action, while authorities have maintained that the arrest relates to pending legal proceedings. The competing interpretations have added another layer of controversy to the Nandigram bypoll.
BJP Fields Hasirani Rath
The BJP has nominated Hasirani Rath as its candidate from Nandigram. Rath is the mother of Chandranath Rath, a former aide of Suvendu Adhikari who was killed earlier this year. The BJP has also fielded candidates in Rejinagar as part of its effort to consolidate its position after the 2026 Assembly election.
The BJP's Nandigram campaign is also significant because the constituency has previously been at the centre of major electoral battles involving Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari.
The rival TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee has nominated Mohammad Eteshamul Haque from Nandigram. The faction is contesting separately following the split in the party and the continuing dispute over the Trinamool Congress's organisational control, name and election symbol.
The Left has nominated Shantigopal Giri of the CPI.
As a result, Nandigram has developed into a multi-cornered contest involving the BJP, Congress-backed candidate, the rival TMC faction and the Left.
TMC Split Adds Another Dimension
The bypolls are also taking place against the backdrop of an internal dispute over the identity and organisational control of the Trinamool Congress.
The Election Commission has prevented the two rival factions from using the original TMC name and the party's traditional election symbol for these bypolls while the dispute is being dealt with. The factions were asked to choose separate names and symbols for the contests.
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction and the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction have therefore entered the bypolls with separate electoral identities. The situation has made the two constituencies an important test of the organisational strength of the rival camps.
The Ritabrata-led faction has fielded Mohammad Eteshamul Haque in Nandigram and Safiuddin Sheikh in Rejinagar.
Rejinagar Sees Dramatic Candidate U-Turn
Rejinagar has witnessed its own political drama.
Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, the candidate of the Mamata Banerjee-led faction, initially announced that he would withdraw from the contest. He cited difficulties involving the newly allotted election symbol and concerns regarding party workers.
However, after speaking with Mamata Banerjee, Chowdhury reversed his decision and confirmed that he would remain in the contest. He subsequently indicated that he would continue campaigning despite the difficulties.
Chowdhury is contesting under the election identity and symbol allotted to the Mamata-led faction for the bypoll.
The last-minute reversal added further uncertainty to an already crowded Rejinagar contest.
AJUP Fields Humayun Kabir's Son
The Aam Janata Unnayan Party has fielded Ghulam Nabi Azad (Robin), the son of party chief Humayun Kabir.
Kabir had won Rejinagar by a large margin in the 2026 Assembly election before retaining Nawda and vacating Rejinagar. His son's candidature has consequently made the bypoll an important test of the AJUP's organisational presence in the constituency.
The election symbol issue has also affected AJUP. The party's previously associated symbol was changed, with the Election Commission allotting another symbol for the bypoll. Humayun Kabir has publicly criticised the decision and described it as unfair, although that characterization is his political claim.
Arrest of Independent Candidate Adds to Rejinagar Tensions
Another major development occurred when Independent candidate Saiful Islam Mondal, also known as Madan, was arrested during a police vehicle check in the Hariharpara area.
Police said that illegal firearms, ammunition and counterfeit currency were recovered from his possession. Mondal is also associated with AJUP. The arrest has become part of the broader political debate surrounding the Rejinagar election.
The developments have led opposition figures and party representatives to raise allegations of pressure and intimidation. Police and ruling-party representatives have disputed the political interpretation of the arrests, saying that the cases concern specific legal proceedings.
BJP and Congress Compete Alongside Rival TMC Factions
The Rejinagar contest features candidates from several political formations.
The BJP has nominated Sakharav Sarkar, a former Murshidabad district party president. Congress has fielded Mohammed Abdullahil Kafi, while the Ritabrata Banerjee-led TMC faction has nominated Safiuddin Sheikh. The CPI(M) has fielded Syed Asad Ali. AJUP is represented by Ghulam Nabi Azad, while the Mamata-led faction is represented by Rabiul Alam Chowdhury.
The presence of rival TMC factions makes Rejinagar particularly significant. Voters are being presented with competing candidates claiming different political identities within a wider dispute over the party's organisation and symbols.
Allegations of Political Pressure
The campaign has also been marked by allegations from opposition leaders that candidates and workers have faced pressure.
In Rejinagar, Humayun Kabir has alleged that police action against his party workers has affected the campaign. He has said that he would rely more heavily on social media rather than conduct extensive physical campaigning.
In Nandigram, opposition leaders have also questioned the arrest of Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, particularly because it came shortly after Mamata Banerjee announced support for his candidature.
The BJP, however, has rejected allegations that its political opponents are being deliberately targeted. BJP leaders have argued that opposition parties (opens in a new tab) are using the arrests and other developments as political issues ahead of the election. These remain competing claims, while the underlying criminal cases and investigations are matters for the relevant authorities and courts.
What Makes the October 6 Bypolls Significant?
The Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls have significance beyond the two individual constituencies.
First, they are the first major electoral contests after the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election and will provide another opportunity for political parties to demonstrate their organisational strength.
Second, the elections are taking place during a major dispute between rival TMC factions. The Election Commission's decision to prevent the factions from using the original party name and symbol for these contests has created an unusual electoral situation.
Third, the decision by Mamata Banerjee's faction to support Congress in Nandigram has introduced another dimension to the opposition's electoral strategy.
Finally, the arrests, candidate withdrawals and symbol disputes have made the campaign more contentious than a routine bypoll contest.
October 6 Polling, October 9 Counting
Voting for the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly bypolls is scheduled for October 6, 2026, while counting will take place on October 9. The results will provide a fresh indication of the electoral dynamics in the two constituencies following the 2026 Assembly election.
For Nandigram, the key developments include Mamata Banerjee's support for Congress, the arrest of Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, the BJP's nomination of Hasirani Rath, the rival TMC faction's candidate and the Left's presence.
In Rejinagar, the focus is on the AJUP candidate, the rival TMC factions, the BJP and Congress candidates, the last-minute decision by Rabiul Alam Chowdhury to remain in the race, and the arrest of Independent candidate Saiful Islam Mondal.
The two contests therefore combine electoral competition with a wider political dispute over party organisation, candidate selection, election symbols and the role of legal and administrative actions during an election campaign. The developments leading up to October 6 are likely to keep both constituencies at the centre of West Bengal's political discussion.
“West Bengal's Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly bypolls have turned into closely watched multi-cornered contests, with Mamata Banerjee backing Congress in Nandigram, a Congress candidate facing arrest, a last-minute candidate U-turn in Rejinagar and rival Trinamool Congress factions entering the electoral battle.”
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