New Delhi, 06 October (H.S.): Voters turned out in large numbers on Tuesday for by-elections to six seats across three states and one Union Territory, including the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency in Assam. Polling concluded at 6 p.m. According to available data, more than 76 percent polling was recorded across all six constituencies by 5:30 p.m. Tamil Nadu’s Madurantakam Assembly constituency recorded the highest turnout at 83.86 percent, while Assam’s Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency registered the lowest at 76 percent.

According to election officials, by 5:30 p.m., voter turnout stood at 83.86 percent in Madurantakam and 78.53 percent in Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu; 79.39 percent in Nandigram and 78.42 percent in Rejinagar in West Bengal; 78.83 percent in Thattanchavady in Puducherry; and 76 percent in Assam’s Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency.

By 3:30 p.m., 70.25 percent polling had been recorded in Nagaon, 68.91 percent in Thattanchavady, 70.31 percent in Madurantakam and 68.08 percent in Dharapuram. In West Bengal, 69.29 percent of voters had exercised their franchise in Rejinagar, while the turnout in Nandigram stood at 71.79 percent.

At 1:30 p.m., voter turnout was recorded at 56.35 percent in Nagaon, 56.27 percent in Thattanchavady, 55.19 percent in Madurantakam, 56.09 percent in Dharapuram, 56.43 percent in Rejinagar and 60.32 percent in Nandigram.

By 11:30 a.m., Nandigram had recorded a turnout of 43.95 percent, followed by Rejinagar at 38.71 percent, Nagaon at 37.82 percent, Thattanchavady at 39.16 percent, Madurantakam at 35.55 percent and Dharapuram at 37.28 percent.

Polling also proceeded at a brisk pace during the early hours. By 9:30 a.m., voter turnout in Nandigram had reached 20.89 percent. Rejinagar recorded 18.05 percent, Nagaon 17.68 percent, Thattanchavady 19.20 percent, Madurantakam 15.99 percent and Dharapuram 17.55 percent.

In Puducherry’s Thattanchavady constituency, 31 polling stations were set up for around 27,000 voters, and polling remained peaceful.

It is noteworthy that the main contest in Assam’s Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency is between BJP candidate Devashish Sharma, Congress candidate Sibamoni Bora and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal. Nagaon has a total of 19,01,899 electors, including 9,58,549 men, 9,43,300 women and 50 third-gender voters. A total of 2,307 polling stations were established across eight Assembly segments. Around 11,535 election personnel and security personnel were deployed. The seat fell vacant following the resignation of Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi.

In West Bengal’s Nandigram constituency, the BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath, the Congress has nominated Milan Pradhan, while the CPI has fielded Shantigopal Giri on behalf of the Left Front. A total of 282 polling stations were established in Nandigram, with 100 percent webcasting arranged at all polling stations. Thirty-seven companies of the Central Armed Police Forces were deployed for security.

The Nandigram seat fell vacant after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari won both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in the 2026 Assembly elections and subsequently resigned from Nandigram while retaining the Bhabanipur seat.

In Rejinagar constituency in Murshidabad district, BJP candidate Shankarao Sarkar, Rabiul Alam Chowdhury of a Trinamool Congress faction and Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) candidate Golam Nabi Azad are in the fray. Golam Nabi Azad is the son of Humayun Kabir.

A total of 315 polling stations were established in Rejinagar, with 100 percent webcasting arrangements. Thirty-four companies of central forces were deployed in the constituency. Taken together, Nandigram and Rejinagar had webcasting facilities at all 597 polling stations, while 71 companies of central forces were deployed.

The Rejinagar seat fell vacant following the resignation of Humayun Kabir. In the 2026 Assembly elections, he won both Rejinagar and Nabagram and subsequently retained the Nabagram seat.

In Tamil Nadu’s reserved Madurantakam constituency, there are 2,13,788 electors, with 285 polling stations established. A total of 2,614 police personnel, including 480 CISF personnel, were deployed for security. Twenty-three polling stations were classified as sensitive.

A total of 27 candidates are contesting from the seat. The prominent candidates include TVK’s K. Maragatham Kumaravel, DMK’s I. Paranthamen, AIADMK’s Kanitha Sampath and CPI(M)’s P. Sugandhi.

The seat fell vacant following the resignation of AIADMK MLA Maragatham Kumaravel. After resigning, she joined the TVK and is now contesting as the party’s candidate.

The other reserved constituency, Dharapuram, has 2,23,247 electors. A total of 320 polling stations were established, with around 3,500 police personnel deployed. Eighteen polling stations were declared sensitive.

The TVK has fielded former AIADMK MLA P. Sathyabama, the DMK has nominated S. Suganya, the AIADMK has fielded K. Bhanumathi, and the Communist Party of India has nominated P. Lakshmanan.

Both Madurantakam and Dharapuram seats fell vacant following the resignation of AIADMK legislators. Together, the two constituencies have 4,37,035 electors and 605 polling stations.

In the Union Territory of Puducherry, 11 candidates are contesting from the Thattanchavady constituency. The prominent candidates include AINRC’s Ashok Anand, Congress candidate E. Vinayagam, DMK candidate K. Sethu Selvam and CPI candidate A. Mohammed Salim.

The Congress candidate has received the support of the TVK, while the AINRC candidate has the backing of the BJP and AIADMK. The constituency has a total of 26,921 electors.

The seat fell vacant following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Rangasamy. In the 2026 Assembly elections, he won both Thattanchavady and Mangalam and subsequently retained the Mangalam seat.

Candidates from several political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, different factions of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Left parties, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and All India N.R. Congress (AINRC), are contesting these by-elections.

Most of the seats fell vacant following the resignation of elected representatives. With polling now over, all eyes are on the counting of votes, which will take place on October 9. The results of the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election and the five Assembly by-elections will be declared thereafter.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar