By Election 2026: Voting Underway For Six Key Seats Across India

The electoral process for six by-elections across three states and one union territory in India commenced today, with voters lining up at polling stations since early morning. This electoral battle features a direct confrontation between major political entities, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and the Communist Party of India (CPI). The focus remains heavily on the Nandigram and Rejinagar seats in West Bengal, which are witnessing intense competition. Also, polling is being conducted for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram assembly seats in Tamil Nadu, the Thattanchavady seat in Puducherry, and the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat in Assam.

The Significance of Vacated Seats

These by-elections were necessitated after several Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Members of Parliament (MPs) who won from multiple constituencies chose to retain one seat and resigned from the others. The outcome of these elections is expected to serve as a barometer for the current political climate in these regions. In West Bengal, the contest in Nandigram and Rejinagar is particularly significant as it represents the first major electoral test for the BJP since it emerged as a primary challenger to the TMC's 15 year rule. These elections will also indicate which opposition party might emerge as the primary challenger to the BJP in a fragmented political landscape.

High Stakes in West Bengal

The by-elections will provide an early indication of the voters' reaction to the BJP government since it assumed power in May, while political parties are also closely monitoring the voting trends of minority communities in these constituencies. The counting of votes is scheduled for October 9. In Nandigram, the contest holds deep emotional and political value, while the BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath, the mother of Chandranath Rath, who was a close associate of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and was killed shortly after the assembly election victory. The opposition has further complicated the race; the TMC faction led by Mamata Banerjee decided to support Congress candidate Milan Pradhan after withdrawing its own candidate, while meanwhile, a rival Trinamool faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee has fielded Mohammed Eteshamul Haque, and the CPI has also entered the fray.

Multi-Cornered Contest in Rejinagar and Assam

In Rejinagar, a multi-cornered fight is underway involving the BJP, Congress, CPI-M, two factions of the TMC, and the Aam Janta Unnayan Party (AJUP). The AJUP has nominated Ghulam Nabi Azad, the son of former MLA Humayun Kabir, who vacated the seat after choosing to retain the Naoda constituency, while in Assam, the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat, which has a significant Muslim population, is witnessing a fierce battle. The ruling BJP aims to expand its influence, while the Congress is putting in maximum effort to retain its stronghold, while the AIUDF is also struggling to maintain its relevance after its strength in the assembly dropped from 16 to 2 in the April elections. A total of 15 candidates are in the race for Nagaon, including 9 independents. Key contenders include Sibamoni Bora from Congress, former IAS officer Debasish Sharma from BJP, and sitting MLA Badruddin Ajmal from AIUDF, while notably, the TMC's Assam unit candidate, Abdul Salam, withdrew his nomination in protest against the Election Commission's decision to freeze the party's original name and symbol. This by-election follows the departure of MP Pradyut Bordoloi from Congress to join the BJP, where he now serves as an MLA.

Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Dynamics

In Tamil Nadu, the Madurantakam and Dharapuram assembly seats are seeing high-profile campaigning, while chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, DMK President MK Stalin, Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, and AIADMK chief Edappadi K, while palaniswami have campaigned extensively. Such intense activity is unusual for by-elections, highlighting their political importance. The results will determine if the TVK can increase its strength in the assembly, while for the DMK, it's a crucial opportunity for a comeback after unexpected results in April. The AIADMK, currently in third place, is fighting to regain its lost political ground. The contest involves five major parties: the ruling TVK, the main opposition DMK, AIADMK, the Left Front, and the Tamil nationalist TVK. There are 27 candidates in Madurantakam and 22 in Dharapuram. The current Tamil Nadu assembly consists of 107 TVK MLAs, 59 from DMK, 41 from AIADMK, 5 from Congress, 4 from PMK, 2 each from CPI, CPI-M, VCK, and IUML. The house effectively has 227 members. Voting began at 7 AM and will continue until 6 PM, with counting on October 9. Authorities have ensured adequate security for a peaceful polling process.