Political

Nandigram bypoll turnout crosses 80% as Humayun Kabir is arrested in Rejinagar

By /

Voters in West Bengal’s Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly seats turned out in large numbers on Tuesday, 6 October 2026. The Nandigram bypoll turnout stood at 80.89% and Rejinagar’s at 80.07%, according to the latest Election Commission data cited by The Hindu BusinessLine, as the opposition alleged rigging and police arrested Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief Humayun Kabir.

Rigging claims and an arrest

The Congress and the Trinamool Congress alleged “blatant rigging” and “vote theft” at several booths. Congress spokesperson Mita Chakraborty named booths 216 and 232 in Nandigram, and said voters were being threatened. Party workers led by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury protested outside the District Magistrate’s office in Berhampore over complaints from Rejinagar.

Kabir was arrested after a verbal altercation with police at his party office in Rejinagar while voting was under way. He had accused the police of acting at the behest of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, NDTV reported. The Commission said polling was peaceful apart from “some very small incidents”.

BJP confident of both seats

State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said the party would win both seats by huge margins. Adhikari, who cast his vote in Nandigram, called the polling peaceful. He won both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in the April Assembly election, defeating Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur, and kept the Kolkata seat, which forced the Nandigram bypoll.

The BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath in Nandigram. She is the mother of Chandranath Rath, a former aide of Adhikari who was shot dead on 6 May. The Congress candidate is Milan Pradhan. In Rejinagar, which Kabir vacated after winning two seats in April, the TMC’s Rabiul Alam Chowdhury faces the BJP’s Shankharavh Sarkar.

Other seats and counting

The by-elections covered six seats in three states and Puducherry. In Tamil Nadu, Madurantakam recorded 86.26% and Dharapuram 80.30%, both lower than in April. Puducherry’s Thattanchavady polled 80.81%, and Nagaon in Assam about 76%, according to NDTV.

Votes for all six seats will be counted on Friday, 9 October.

Source: The Hindu BusinessLine, NDTV

Photo: Biswarup Ganguly / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 (resized)

Share

Today’s News 7 Oct 2026 · 15 stories

  1. Sariska tiger strays into Thanagazi town, Alwar-Jaipur road closed1Sariska tiger strays into Thanagazi town, Alwar-Jaipur road closedOct 7, 2026
  2. Nandigram bypoll turnout crosses 80% as Humayun Kabir is arrested in Rejinagar2Nandigram bypoll turnout crosses 80% as Humayun Kabir is arrested in RejinagarOct 7, 2026 · Reading now
  3. Rahul Gandhi detained after 8-hour standoff during INDIA bloc march against CEC3Rahul Gandhi detained after 8-hour standoff during INDIA bloc march against CECOct 7, 2026
  4. Defence ministry signs ₹661.5 crore BrahMos contract for Navy launchers4Defence ministry signs ₹661.5 crore BrahMos contract for Navy launchersOct 7, 2026
  5. Supreme Court shuts 23-year-old legislative privilege case in under half an hour5Supreme Court shuts 23-year-old legislative privilege case in under half an hourOct 7, 2026
  6. Delhi doubles ASHA workers incentive to ₹6,000, widens free newborn screening6Delhi doubles ASHA workers incentive to ₹6,000, widens free newborn screeningOct 7, 2026
  7. Meta, Walmart and Stripe back Personal Agent Protocol to bring order to AI agents7Meta, Walmart and Stripe back Personal Agent Protocol to bring order to AI agentsOct 7, 2026
  8. MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro launched in India; Oppo Find X10 Pro Max to debut it8MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro launched in India; Oppo Find X10 Pro Max to debut itOct 7, 2026
  9. Cabinet approves ITLA to draft a National Transport Master Plan9Cabinet approves ITLA to draft a National Transport Master PlanOct 7, 2026
  10. Paramount Warner Bros merger closes, creating 0 billion Hollywood giant Skydance10Paramount Warner Bros merger closes, creating $110 billion Hollywood giant SkydanceOct 7, 2026
  11. Tu Hai Meri Kiran trailer out: Sonakshi and Zaheer turn one-sided love into a thriller11Tu Hai Meri Kiran trailer out: Sonakshi and Zaheer turn one-sided love into a thrillerOct 7, 2026
  12. Salman Khan Kala Hiran case: Delhi HC seeks actor’s reply on producer’s plea12Salman Khan Kala Hiran case: Delhi HC seeks actor’s reply on producer’s pleaOct 7, 2026
  13. Titan Q2 update: consumer businesses grow 25%, jewellery up 21%13Titan Q2 update: consumer businesses grow 25%, jewellery up 21%Oct 7, 2026
  14. IceCube pioneer Francis Halzen wins the 2026 physics Nobel Prize14IceCube pioneer Francis Halzen wins the 2026 physics Nobel PrizeOct 7, 2026
  15. Messi farewell match: Argentina beat Benin 3-0 as Messi scores in his last game15Messi farewell match: Argentina beat Benin 3-0 as Messi scores in his last gameOct 7, 2026

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top