Nandigram and Rejinagar By-Election 2026: 80% Turnout, Rigging Allegations and BJP's Predictions

The Bengali search term উপনির্বাচন (by-election) trended in India after polling for two West Bengal assembly seats — Nandigram in Purba Medinipur and Rejinagar in Murshidabad — was held on 6 October 2026. Google Trends data captured on 7 October 2026 at 16:01 UTC listed the term among trending searches for the previous 24 hours, with roughly 500 approximate searches. That number measures search interest only; it does not verify any claim made during the campaign. Here is what the two published reports actually establish, and what remains an unverified allegation.

What the turnout figures show

According to Sangbad Pratidin, citing Election Commission figures, turnout in both Nandigram and Rejinagar was about 80% until 5 pm on polling day. The same report describes voting as taking place in a festive mood.

On the ground, ABP Ananda's report puts Nandigram at roughly 2.67 lakh voters across 323 booths, with 37 companies of central forces and about 700 police personnel deployed.

Congress allegations and the BJP's response

Congress alleged that voters were being prevented from voting at several booths in Nandigram, and that the people doing this were mainly outsiders. The party said around 80–90 armed men on bikes were entering Nandigram from Khejuri, that polling agents were being blocked at many booths, and that rigging was under way at booth 216. It complained to the CEO's office and the Election Commission, and demanded more security in Khejuri and the Bhangabera-Sonachura area. Congress candidate Milan Pradhan went to the spot and met voters who raised these complaints.

The BJP rejected the rigging allegations outright. Its candidate Hasirani Rath toured booths and said people were voting in a festive atmosphere.

The Rejinagar arrest

In Rejinagar, AJUP chief and MLA Humayun Kabir was arrested from the party office over allegations of disturbing the poll process. The report says there was a scuffle with police before he was taken to Rejinagar police station, and that the CEO's office asked the district election officer for a report on the incident.

What the Leader of Opposition predicted — and why it is not a result

After polling, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said the BJP would win both seats. (Note: Both source reports refer to him as "Chief Minister"; the constitutional position is Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. The Chief Minister of West Bengal is Mamata Banerjee.) He said the winning margin in Nandigram would be larger than in the previous assembly election, that Hasirani Rath would win by five to six times the earlier margin, and that Rejinagar candidate Shakharav Sarkar would get more than 1.2 lakh votes. He also claimed that minority women and young voters backed the BJP, that older minority voters chose Congress and AJUP, and that the TMC and Left had no presence in either contest. These are predictions made by a political leader, not declared outcomes.

Separately, Mamata Banerjee announced support for the Congress candidate in Nandigram — a notable shift in that local contest.

Candidates and how to verify the outcome

• Nandigram: Hasirani Rath (BJP), Milan Pradhan (Congress), Shantigopal Giri (CPI), Mohammad Eteshamul Haque (Ganatanrik TMC, Ritabrata faction).
• Rejinagar: BJP's Shakharav Sarkar, with AJUP and other parties also in the fray.

Neither report reviewed here contains a declared result, so any claim of victory should be treated as a campaign statement until the Election Commission publishes the count. Allegations of rigging and intimidation are claims by parties and were not confirmed by the Commission in the material reviewed. To check the final position, follow the Election Commission of India's official results page and the CEO West Bengal notifications, and compare them with the 80% turnout figure, which was itself a preliminary 5 pm estimate.