Vijay campaigned for Sathyabama through a 40-km roadshow, targeting the DMK over remarks against women. Screengrab: ANI
Bypolls end with high turnout: Madurantakam leads at 85.99 pc, Nandigram at 79.39 pc
Polling ends largely peacefully across Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry, with counting on October 9
Polling for the by-elections to Madurantakam, Dharapuram, Nandigram, Rejinagar and Thattanchavady Assembly constituencies, along with the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat, ended on Tuesday (October 6), with high voter turnout recorded across the six contests.
In Tamil Nadu, the reserved Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies recorded turnout of 85.99 per cent and 80.31 per cent, respectively, according to election authorities. Polling began at 7 am and ended at 6 pm, with officials reporting that the exercise was largely peaceful.
The bypolls in Tamil Nadu are being closely watched after the April Assembly election, with the results expected to offer an early indication of the political standing of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the opposition DMK and the AIADMK.
Nandigram, Rejinagar see political tension
In West Bengal, Nandigram recorded 79.39 per cent turnout and Rejinagar 78.42 per cent by 5 pm, with the final figures expected to be updated. Polling was largely peaceful, officials said, although some incidents were reported.
Also read: Nandigram bypoll: EC replaces police chief after opposition flags ruling party links
The Election Commission sought a report on the arrest of Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief Humayun Kabir after a confrontation with police during polling in Rejinagar. Kabir's son, Golam Nabi Azad, is the AJUP candidate from the seat.
Nandigram remains politically significant as the centre of the anti-land acquisition movement that preceded the Trinamool Congress' rise to power in 2011. It was also the seat from which BJP's Suvendu Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee in 2021. The 2026 bypoll was necessitated after Adhikari, who won two seats, retained Bhabanipur.
Nagaon sees 76 pc turnout
Polling for the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election in Assam also concluded peacefully. Around 76 per cent of the 19.05 lakh electors had voted by 5 pm, with the final turnout expected to rise as voters already inside polling stations were allowed to cast their ballots. Minor EVM glitches were reported at a few booths, but the machines were replaced promptly.
Also read: Rivals lock horns over Nagaon women pushback row ahead of Oct 6 bypolls
Among the eight Assembly segments, Samaguri recorded the highest turnout at 80.22 per cent and Raha the lowest at 70.27 per cent by 5 pm. The contest is primarily between the BJP, Congress and AIUDF.
Puducherry bypoll tests NDA
In Puducherry, 78.83 per cent turnout was recorded in Thattanchavady by 5 pm, with the final figure expected to rise. The bypoll was necessitated after Chief Minister N Rangasamy resigned from the seat while retaining Mangalam.
The contest is being viewed as a test for the four-month-old NDA government led by Rangasamy. Counting for all six bypolls is scheduled for October 9.Nandigram was the centre of Mamata Banerjee’s anti-land-acquisition movement that catapulted the TMC to power in 2011. BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari defeated her there in 2021 and won the seat again in the 2026 Assembly election. He retained Bhabanipur, leading to the bypoll in Nandigram.
Also Read: Nandigram bypoll: EC replaces police chief after opposition flags ruling party links
The BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath, whose son Chandranath Rath, a former aide of Adhikari, was shot dead on May 6, two days after the BJP won the Assembly election. The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction’s candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew after meeting Adhikari. Mamata later backed Congress nominee Milan Pradhan and described the move as an effort to strengthen the INDIA bloc.
The rival TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee has fielded Mohammad Eteshamul Haque, while the CPI has nominated Santigopal Giri.
Rejinagar has five main contenders
The Rejinagar seat fell vacant after Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief Humayun Kabir, who won both Rejinagar and Nowda in the 2026 Assembly election, retained Nowda. AJUP has fielded his son Golam Nabi Azad in the seat.
Kabir was detained by Rejinagar police during the day while voting was in progress. Police took him away from his party office in Rejinagar after he cast his vote earlier in the day. The reason for the detention was not immediately known.
BJP nominee Sakharav Sarkar, Mamata-led TMC candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, rival TMC candidate Safiuzzaman Sheikh, Congress nominee Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi, and CPI(M)’s Syed Asad Ali are also in the race.
Rejinagar has 2.57 lakh electors, while Nandigram has 2.67 lakh voters. There are 315 polling stations in Rejinagar and 323 in Nandigram. Webcasting is available at all booths.
Assam votes in Nagaon Lok Sabha seat
In Assam, BJP’s Devashish Sharma, former Congress MLA Sibamoni Bora and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal are the main candidates among 15 contestants in Nagaon constituency.
Also Read: CM Vijay begins Dharapuram roadshow for TVK candidate ahead of October 6 bypoll
The seat fell vacant after Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned and later contested the Dispur Assembly election on a BJP ticket. The BJP is seeking to expand its base in the Muslim-majority constituency, while Congress is trying to retain its minority support. The AIUDF is seeking to retain its influence after its strength fell to two MLAs from 16 in the April Assembly election.
The constituency has 19.05 lakh voters, including 9.43 lakh women and 50 third-gender electors. Voting is taking place at 2,312 polling stations, including five auxiliary booths. Of these, 624 have been identified as sensitive.
Polling began at 7 am for by-elections in Puducherry, West Bengal, Assam and Tamil Nadu and will end at 5 pm or 6 pm. Counting will take place on October 9.
(With agency inputs)