In West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) enjoys the backing of 207 of the 294 assembly members. Two seats, Nandigram and Rejinagar, are now contested in bypolls triggered by elected representatives winning from other constituencies in the 2026 assembly elections. The main contenders are the BJP, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Indian National Congress, and the Left Front.
Nandigram, a predominantly rural constituency in Purba Medinipur, houses about 2.5 lakh voters, 27% of whom are Muslim. The seat is Suvendu Adhikari’s home district, who has repeatedly described the contest as a prestige battle. The BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath, the mother of Chandranath Rath, a former personal assistant of Adhikari who was shot dead on 6 May. Rath has staged puja at local temples and seeks a 1.5‑lakh‑vote margin. The TMC’s former chief minister Mamata Banerjee initially backed Sanchita Pradhan Dey, withdrew, and then supported Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, who was arrested in a 19‑year‑old murder case and is in judicial custody until 3 October. Congress has framed the arrest as political retaliation, with Rahul Gandhi calling it a “murder of democracy.”
Rejinagar, with 2.56 lakh voters and a 69% Muslim electorate, lies along the Bhagirathi river in Murshidabad district. The seat was vacated by AJUP leader Humayun Kabir, who had earlier drawn controversy with plans for a Babri‑style mosque. Kabir’s son, Golam Nabi Azad, is the AJUP candidate but is largely abstaining from campaigning, citing police intimidation. The TMC, backed by the Banerjee faction, fielded former MLA Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, while the Congress nominated Abdullahil Kafi and the BJP presented Sakharav Sarkar. Police arrests of opposition workers and independent candidate Saiful Islam have intensified concerns about electoral fairness. Graffiti of opposition symbols now adorns the walls, yet only the BJP office remains active.
Local voters express frustration over developmental neglect. A tea‑shop owner notes the nearest hospital is 5–6 km away, and a vendor near the unfinished mosque site hopes the project will boost business. Residents also remark on the silence surrounding the campaign, with some fearing that intimidation has stifled political participation. The bypolls therefore reflect both political rivalry and broader concerns about governance and civil liberties in West Bengal.
