West Bengal is set for a high-stakes electoral contest for the byelections in Nandigram and Rejinagar constituencies on October 6, 2026. Nandigram has 16 candidates, while the Rejinagar seat has 21 candidates in the poll fray.

The BJP secured a triumphant victory in the 2026 Assembly elections, clinching 208 of 294 seats in the State, marking its rule for the first time in West Bengal. The saffron party’s rival TMC came a distant second, registering victory in 80 seats.

Notably, the TMC will be making a return to the poll battle with a fresh symbol allocated by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The poll body has allocated different symbols and names to both the rival factions of Trinamool Congress — the Mamata Banerjee faction and the Ritabrata Banerjee group. Mamata Banerjee and her loyalists were given the symbol of a football player alongside the name — Mamata All India Trinamool Congress, while the Ritabrata Banerjee faction was given the envelope symbol with the name — Democratic Trinamool Congress.

In a dramatic twist, Sanchita Pradhan (Dey), Mamata faction candidate withdrew from contesting after meeting Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. M. Banerjee extended support to Congress candidate Milan Pradhan. However, within hours of the announcement, Mr. Pradhan was arrested by the police in connection with a 17-year-old case linked to Nandigram land agitation.

The BJP seeks to retain the Nandigram seat for a second-consecutive term, and has fielded Hasirani Rath for the poll contest. Ms. Rath is the mother of Suvendu Adhikari’s slain personal assistant Chandranath Rath, who was killed in post-poll violence in this year.

Meanwhile for the Rejinagar seat, the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC has chosen Rabiul Alam Chowdhury against BJP’s pick Shankharavh Sarkar. Mr. Chowdhury, a heavyweight leader from the region, has won the seat in 2011 and 2016, respectively.

Why are bypolls being held in Nandigram and Rejinagar?

The byelection in the Nandigram constituency was necessitated after Mr. Adhikari decided to retain Bhabanipur, where he defeated TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee. In Nandigram, Mr. Adhikari polled 1.27 lakh votes against his TMC rival Pabitra Kar, who managed to obtain 1.17 lakh votes in the tight poll battle.

Similarly, Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder Humayun Kabir won both Naoda and Rejinagar constituencies in 2026 Assembly polls. However, he later opted to vacate the Rejinagar seat.

Candidates in Nandigram

The BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath for the Nandigram byelections. The Ritabrata Banerjee-led Democratic Trinamool Congress has chosen Eteshamul Haque for the elections, making it a close contest. Alongside, the three independent candidates in the poll fray includes Abdul Raffiq Saha, S.K. Mujibar Rahaman Ali, and Sayed Mahammad.

On the other hand, the Jatiya Unnayan Party has fielded S.K. Hasibul, and All India Secular front has chosen Ali Md Sabe Miraj Khan for the Nandigram bypoll.

Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (CPI) has announced Shanti Gopal Giri as its candidate for the bypoll.

Candidates in Rejinagar

For the Rejinagar constituency, the BJP has picked Shankharavh Sarkar. The Mamata All India Trinamool Congress has retained Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, a two-time legislator from the constituency for the polls. Moreover, the CPI has fielded Md. Sayeed and Ritabrata Banerjee led-Democratic Trinamool Congress has chosen Safiuzzaman Saikh for the poll battle. Congress has fielded Abdullahil Kafi.

Notably, the seat will see six independent candidates entering the poll fray this time.

Nandigram seat – Past trends

In 2011, TMC candidate Phiroja Bibi registered victory in the seat with 1.03 lakh votes, defeating CPI’s Paramananda Bharati by 43,640 votes.

In 2016 Assembly polls, Suvendu Adhikari contested as a TMC candidate, securing 1.34 lakh votes and defeating his nearest CPI rival Abdul Kabir Sekh.

In a dramatic shift, Mr. Adhikari shifted to the BJP in 2021 and contested from the seat, defeating his once political confidante Mamata Banerjee by just 1,956 votes.

Rejinagar seat – Past trends

In 2011, Humayun Kabir of Congress secured victory in the neck-and-neck race, securing 77,542 votes, and defeated his nearest rival Sirajul Islam Mondal. In 2016, Congress candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury polled 79,770 votes, defeating his nearest rival Humayun Kabir.

Mr. Chowdhury scripted the victory again in 2021 by registering 1.18 lakh votes defeating his BJP rival Arabinda BIswas, who came distant second by obtaining 50,000 votes.

On 2026 Assembly polls, AJUP’s Humayun Kabir secured a victory by registering 1.23 lakh votes against his BJP rival who managed to gather 64,660 votes.