Six Bypolls Conclude Across Four Regions With Brisk Voting, Results Due October 9
Polling for six by-elections across Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry ended on Tuesday, with voters turning out in large numbers in several constituencies and the contests in Bengal witnessing allegations of irregularities and demands for repolling.
The bypolls covered the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat in Assam, Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies in West Bengal, Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu, and Thattanchavady in Puducherry. Counting of votes is scheduled for October 9.
Turnout was particularly strong in Assam and West Bengal. Nagaon recorded 70.25 per cent polling till 3 pm, while Nandigram registered 71.79 per cent and Rejinagar 69.29 per cent by the same time, according to figures reported during the polling process. Voting in the three constituencies was largely peaceful.
The Bengal contests, however, were marked by political tension. Congress sought repolling in both Nandigram and Rejinagar, alleging booth-level irregularities, intimidation of voters and removal of polling agents. The BJP rejected the allegations and maintained that polling was conducted fairly. AJUP chief Humayun Kabir was detained in Rejinagar following a confrontation with police, adding to the tension.
In Tamil Nadu, Madurantakam recorded 83.86 per cent polling and Dharapuram 78.53 per cent till 5 pm, in contests being closely watched as a test for Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The bypolls were necessitated after former AIADMK MLAs K Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama resigned and joined TVK.
The Thattanchavady contest in Puducherry also saw brisk voting, with the result expected to indicate voter sentiment towards the ruling NDA-led government.
In Assam, the Nagaon contest featured a triangular battle involving the BJP, Congress and AIUDF, while the Bengal results could offer an early indication of the BJP government's political standing after its 2026 Assembly victory.
With campaigning over and votes sealed, attention now turns to October 9, when the results across all six constituencies are expected to provide early clues about shifting political equations in the four regions.