The Election Commission has officially announced that by-elections will be held for two assembly constituencies in West Bengal: Nandigram and Rejinagar. The polling is set for October 6, with the counting of votes to occur on October 9. This decision follows the vacating of these seats by incumbent politicians, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder Humayun Kabir.

Nomination Process and Timeline

The electoral process will initiate with the issuance of a gazette notification on September 9. Candidates interested in contesting in these by-elections must submit their nominations by September 16. Following this, scrutiny of the nominations is scheduled for September 17, and candidates will have until September 19 to withdraw their nominations if they so choose. The entire electoral procedure is expected to conclude by October 11.

Adhikari, who played a pivotal role in leading the BJP to its first government in West Bengal, had successfully contested both the Nandigram and Bhabanipur seats in the April elections. He made headlines by defeating Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee in her Bhabanipur stronghold with a margin of 15,105 votes. Subsequently, he chose to retain the Bhabanipur seat and resigned as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Nandigram.

Humayun Kabir, the AJUP chief and former member of the Trinamool Congress, won both the Rejinagar and Naoda constituencies in the previous assembly elections conducted in 2026. Kabir formed the AJUP following his expulsion from the Trinamool Congress, and since then, he has focused on strengthening his new political outfit.

Voter Identification and Election Mechanism

The Election Commission has indicated that the electoral rolls will be continuously updated until the nomination submission deadline. This will allow for the inclusion of applications received up to ten days prior to this date, ensuring that eligible voters can participate in the electoral process.

During these by-polls, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) will be utilised at all polling stations. This technological approach aims to enhance the transparency and security of the electoral process. Voters will be primarily required to present their Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) as identification, but they may also use alternative documents such as Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, driving licences, and passports as stipulated by the Election Commission.

The implementation of this measure is expected to facilitate a smooth voting experience for the electorate, thereby encouraging higher voter turnout and participation in the democratic process.

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