West Bengal: Counting begins for Nandigram, Rejinagar bypolls, BJP's first electoral test after coming to power
Counting of votes for the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly bypolls began at 8 am on Friday amid tight security, marking the first electoral test for the BJP since it came to power in West Bengal in May this year.
Officials began counting postal ballots and Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballots (ETPBs) at designated centres in both constituencies before moving on to votes recorded in electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Counting is being conducted in two halls in each constituency and is scheduled to conclude in 15 rounds. Separate halls have been designated for postal ballots and ETPBs.
The outcome of the bypolls will not affect the state government, as the BJP secured 207 of the 294 seats in the Assembly.
Both constituencies recorded voter turnout of around 80% on Tuesday. Nandigram registered 80.89% polling, while Rejinagar recorded 80.08%. The Election Commission described the polling as "more or less peaceful".
Opposition parties, however, alleged voter intimidation, irregularities at polling booths and the removal of their polling agents. They also demanded fresh polling in the constituencies. The BJP dismissed the allegations and maintained that voting had been peaceful.
One of the major flashpoints during polling was the arrest of Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief Humayun Kabir following a confrontation with police in Rejinagar. The bypoll was necessitated after Kabir vacated the seat and retained Nowda.
The results are being closely watched to assess the BJP's performance after it replaced the Trinamool Congress government, which had ruled the state for 15 years, following the 2026 Assembly elections. The contests are also significant amid divisions within the TMC and the presence of multiple political formations.
In Nandigram, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari defeated TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee in the 2021 Assembly elections. He won the seat again in the 2026 polls before retaining Bhabanipur, making the by-election necessary.
The BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath, while Congress candidate Milan Pradhan has the backing of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction after its nominee withdrew. A rival TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee is also contesting the seat.
In Rejinagar, the candidates include BJP's Sakharav Sarkar, Mamata Banerjee-led TMC nominee Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, rival TMC candidate Safiuzzaman Sheikh, Congress nominee Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi, CPI(M)'s Syed Asad Ali and AJUP candidate Golam Nabi Azad, son of Humayun Kabir. (with inputs ftom PTI)
