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What We Need to Know About the October 6 By-elections of India

Voting is underway today, October 6, across six key constituencies spanning West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Assam. The round includes five Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat vacated after legislators retained alternate constituencies or switched parties following the earlier 2026 general and state polls. Counting for all seats is scheduled for October 9. With tensions high in Delhi over Election Commission procedures, a strong turnout across these states also raises the political stakes for both the NDA and the INDIA bloc.

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What We Need to Know About the October 6 By-elections of India
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In a Nutshell

West Bengal: Nandigram and Rejinagar

  • These are Bengal’s first major bypolls since the BJP won the 2026 Assembly election, ending 15 years of Trinamool Congress rule.
  • In Bengal, the bypolls test whether the BJP can strengthen its local support after winning 207 seats in the 2026 Assembly election, or whether the divided opposition can recover before the 2029 Lok Sabha election.
  • The Nandigram seat became vacant after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari left it. At the same time, opposition parties have alleged voting irregularities.
  • In Rejinagar, police arrested Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder Humayun Kabir outside polling booths over alleged protocol violations. AJUP candidate alleged that voters are being denied the right to vote and accused the state of interfering in the election
  • By 1 pm, Rejinagar recorded 56.43% turnout. 

Tamil Nadu: Dharapuram and Madurantakam

  • The bypolls began after former AIADMK MLAs joined actor-politician Vijay’s party, TVK, and contested again.
  • The ruling DMK accused TVK workers of distributing cash in Dharapuram. TVK said opponents had distorted videos. Turnout crossed 35% by midday.

Assam: Nagaon Lok Sabha

  • The seat has a three-way contest between the BJP, Congress and AIUDF.
  • Polling began after former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi joined the BJP and won an Assembly seat earlier this year.

Puducherry: Thattanchavady

  • Eleven candidates are contesting after Chief Minister N. Rangasamy left the seat to keep Mangalam.
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