Voting underway in 5 seats in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry bypolls

Polling began at 7 am on Tuesday ( October 6) for by-elections in Puducherry, West Bengal, Assam and Tamil Nadu, with voters turning up early and security arrangements made across the constituencies.

Tamil Nadu votes in two SC seats

In Tamil Nadu, voting is taking place in Madurantakam (SC) in Chengalpattu and Dharapuram (SC) in Tiruppur. Over 35.55 per cent of people have voted till 11 am.

Former AIADMK MLAs K Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama vacated the seats after joining Vijay’s TVK. Vijay has fielded both former MLAs from their respective constituencies.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu bypolls will put political defections to the voter test

The DMK has fielded former MLA I Paranthamen in Madurantakam and Suganya in Dharapuram. Vijay campaigned for Sathyabama through a 40-km roadshow, targeting the DMK over remarks against women and saying such attacks had “crossed the line”. He added that he would not remain silent.

Puducherry bypoll sees 11 candidates

A voting percentage of 39.16 per cent has been recorded in the Assembly constituency of Thattanchavady in Puducherry, where Chief Minister N Rangasamy’s resignation from the seat led to the bypoll. The election comes four months after the NDA government led by Rangasamy took office and is being seen as a test for the ruling alliance.

Eleven candidates are in the fray, though the contest is mainly between the AINRC-led NDA, Congress and its former ally DMK. Polling will continue till 6 pm, officials said.

Bengal seats under tight security

West Bengal is voting in Nandigram and Rejinagar amid tight security. Seventy-one companies of central forces have been deployed for the two seats, with polling scheduled to end at 6 pm. Till 11 am, around 38.71 per cent of people have exercised their franchise in the constituency.

Also Read: Dharapuram bypoll: Why Arunraj insists TVK has an edge over AIADMK

Nandigram in Purba Medinipur was the centre of Mamata Banerjee’s anti-land acquisition movement that catapulted the TMC to power in 2011. BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari defeated Banerjee there in 2021 and won the seat again in the 2026 Assembly election. He retained Bhabanipur, leading to the bypoll in Nandigram.

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.

Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief and MLA Humayun Kabir was detained by Rejinagar Police during the day while voting was in progress for the Assembly by-election in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district.

Police took Kabir away from his party office in Rejinagar during polling. The reason for the detention was not immediately known, and further details were awaited.

Kabir had cast his vote earlier in the day before being taken into custody.

Nandigram contest draws multiple factions

The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction’s candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew after meeting Adhikari. Banerjee later backed Congress nominee Milan Pradhan and described the move as an effort to strengthen the INDIA bloc. The constituency has recorded a voting percentage of 43.95 per cent till 11 am.

Also Read: Nandigram bypoll: EC replaces police chief after opposition flags ruling party links

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

Rejinagar fell vacant after Humayun Kabir, who won both Rejinagar and Nowda in the 2026 Assembly election, retained Nowda. His Aam Janata Unnayan Party has fielded his son Golam Nabi Azad. At least 38.71 per cent of voters have exercised their franchise in the bypolls to the seat, till 11 am.

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. Counting will take place on October 9.

Assam votes in Nagaon Lok Sabha seat

In Assam, nearly 38 per cent of 19.05 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the bypoll to the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat till 11 am on Tuesday, with no untoward incident reported, PTI reported.

BJP’s Devashish Sharma, former Congress MLA Sibamoni Bora and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal are the main candidates among 15 contestants in the constituency.

Also Read: CM Vijay begins Dharapuram roadshow for TVK candidate ahead of October 6 bypoll

The seat became 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 will end at 5 pm, with counting on October 9.

(With agency inputs)