The counting of votes for the by-elections held on October 6 across four states—West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry—has officially begun today at 8 AM. This electoral exercise covers five assembly seats and the significant Nagaon Lok Sabha seat in Assam. As the political landscape continues to evolve, these results are being viewed as a critical indicator of the current public sentiment and the strength of various political alliances in these regions.
West Bengal: A Test for the BJP Government
In West Bengal, all eyes are on the Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly constituencies. These by-elections are particularly significant as they provide the first major assessment of the political climate since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed the government, ending the 15-year-long tenure of the Trinamool Congress. While these polls aren't a direct referendum on the four-month-old BJP administration, they serve as a vital metric to gauge the party's electoral grip and the standing of the opposition. The political history of Nandigram adds a layer of intensity to this contest. In the 2021 assembly elections, Suvendu Adhikari secured a high-profile victory against Mamata Banerjee. According to the records, Suvendu Adhikari also won the seat in the 2026 assembly elections but had to vacate it to retain the Bhawanipur seat, leading to this by-election.
Tensions and Turnout in Rejinagar
The Rejinagar constituency witnessed significant political drama following a clash with the police, which led to the arrest of Humayun Kabir, the chief of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party. In his absence, his son, Ghulam Nabi Azad, is contesting the seat. The Congress party has raised concerns regarding the polling process in both Nandigram and Rejinagar, demanding a repoll due to alleged irregularities. 24 lakh eligible voters participating. 08 percent. However, the polling day was marred by reports of voter intimidation, booth-level discrepancies, and sporadic clashes between rival factions.
Tamil Nadu: TVK Faces Its First Major Challenge
In Tamil Nadu, the counting for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram assembly by-elections is being conducted under a stringent three-tier security cover, while these elections are seen as the first major popularity test for the TVK since it came to power in May. On the other hand, the opposition AIADMK is looking to reclaim the seats it lost to the TVK during the April assembly elections. The counting process is organized at the LRG Government Arts and Science College in Dharapuram for the Tiruppur district and at the Integrated Social Development Training Center in Athur for the Madurantakam seat in Chengalpattu district. To ensure transparency, the Dharapuram counting hall has been equipped with 14 tables for EVM counting and 2 tables for processing postal ballots, with similar arrangements in place for Madurantakam.
Assam: Triangular Contest for Nagaon Lok Sabha Seat
The Nagaon Lok Sabha seat in Assam is witnessing a fierce triangular battle between the BJP, Congress, and the AIUDF. The BJP has fielded former bureaucrat Devashish Sharma, while the Congress has placed its trust in former MLA Shivamani Bora. The AIUDF campaign is led by its party chief, Badruddin Ajmal. The seat became vacant after the sitting Congress MP, Pradyut Bordoloi, won an assembly election and moved to the state legislature. The voter turnout in Nagaon was recorded at approximately 76 percent, reflecting the high stakes involved for all three major political players in the state.