Kolkata, Oct. 6 -- The Assembly by-polls in Nandigram and Rejinagar-the first ones after the BJP came to power in West Bengal with a huge mandate-were overshadowed by the allegations and arrest of AJUP chief Humayun Kabir-even as nearly 79 per cent of voters had cast their ballots by 5 pm - 79.39 per cent in Nandigram and 78.42 per cent in Rejinagar.
Nandigram had recorded 94.5 per cent polling in the 2026 Assembly elections, while Rejinagar had registered 92.7 per cent.
The BJP, which had repeatedly accused the previous TMC government of electoral malpractice and voter intimidation during its 15-year rule, faced similar allegations from Opposition parties with demands of re-polling in both seats.
Allegations of irregularities that surfaced from the morning put the spotlight on the conduct of polling in these two politically sensitive seats, with the Opposition alleging voter intimidation, booth-level irregularities and removal of polling agents, while the BJP rejected the charges.
Political tension escalated in Rejinagar on Tuesday when AJUP chief Humayun Kabir was arrested in the morning, shortly after a confrontation with police. Kabir's son, Golam Nabi Azad, is contesting the Rejinagar seat on an AJUP ticket after Kabir, who had won the seat in this year's Assembly polls, vacated it.
The Election Commission sought a report from the Murshidabad district magistrate on Kabir's arrest. The poll panel received 97 complaints during the day alleging electoral malpractices in the two constituencies, adding to the concerns surrounding the bypolls.
Later in the day, the CEO forwarded the Murshidabad DEO's report on Humayun Kabir's arrest to the Election Commission. The report said Kabir had allegedly abused the chief minister and was attempting to create trouble.
At Nandigram, West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari went to cast his vote and was spotted using an e-rickshaw to reach his booth. Adhikari had won the Nandigram seat twice in 2021 and again in 2026, but this time he decided to retain the Bhowanipore Assembly seat.
Adhikari said: "No major incident happened. So far, the BJP government is in power; we will not allow any violence. Small incidents might have happened. But in the previous regime there were bombings and murders on poll day."
Congress' Nandigram candidate Milan Pradhan repeatedly alleged "vote loot" and claimed that voters were being prevented from casting their ballots.
In Rejinagar too, Congress, AJUP and Mamata Trinamool candidates alleged electoral malpractice and demanded a repoll. WBPCC president Subhankar Sarkar called for complete repolling in both Nandigram and Rejinagar, alleging large-scale voter intimidation and electoral rigging.
The scale of voting nevertheless stood out, with Rejinagar recording 18 per cent turnout and Nandigram 20 per cent in the first two hours. By 3 pm, turnout had already reached 71.79 per cent in Nandigram and 69.29 per cent in Rejinagar, with officials describing polling as largely peaceful apart from a few incidents. The final combined turnout crossed 79 per cent.
Meanwhile, Kabir, after casting his vote, had alleged that police were interfering with polling and intimidating voters. He claimed that voters' slips and identity cards were being taken away and that several of his supporters had been detained. Police subsequently took him into custody from his party office following a heated exchange.
The Rejinagar incident triggered fresh political allegations. Congress candidate Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi staged a sit-in outside the police station and demanded cancellation of polling and a repoll. Opposition leaders alleged that voters were intimidated and that polling agents were prevented from functioning freely. These allegations, however, were rejected by the BJP, which maintained that voting was peaceful.
Nandigram witnessed a similar war of claims. Congress candidate Milan Pradhan alleged that his polling agents were prevented from entering booths and that voters faced intimidation. The Congress also alleged that motorcyclists were entering the constituency from neighbouring Khejuri through Tekhali Bridge and demanded that the crossing be sealed.
A CPI polling agent was also allegedly assaulted at Sarberia, while allegations of police lathicharge on voters surfaced at Chakraberia.
The BJP dismissed the allegations, with its candidate Hasirani Rath maintaining that polling was peaceful and festive.
The contests are politically significant beyond the two seats. Nandigram, the epicentre of the anti-land acquisition movement that propelled the TMC to power in 2011 and later became synonymous with Adhikari's political rise, is an early test of the BJP government's support after assuming office in May.
Adhikari fielded Hasirani Rath, mother of his slain personal assistant, as the BJP candidate, and the CM is confident of winning by a margin of over 1 lakh.
However, Adhikari had won by a margin of 9,500-plus votes in 2026, while in 2021 it was around 1,950 votes.
Rejinagar, meanwhile, is a test of whether AJUP can retain the political space created by Kabir's victory in the Assembly election.
With counting scheduled for October 9, the high turnout has raised the stakes, while allegations of malpractice have added to the political tension. The results from the two seats will be closely watched by both the BJP leadership and the Opposition.
Meanwhile, State BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar strongly condemned a series of provocative statements allegedly made by opposition leaders in connection with the elections, as well as alleged attempts to create unrest in various areas. He said that before the elections and on polling day, there were attempts to disrupt the electoral process by deliberately spreading false, provocative and divisive statements.
"Talking about a 70-30 ratio, speaking of rebuilding the Babri structure, or wishing for the death of the Chief Minister-these statements are not isolated incidents. There is a definite political pattern behind them," Sarkar said during a Press conference.
He alleged that attempts to create tension in different places on polling day through false and provocative statements were a strategy to create a 'prima facie ground' ahead of a possible defeat, so that allegations of arrests or political vendetta can subsequently be made.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.