Kolkata, 06 October (H.S.) :

High-stakes assembly by-elections in West Bengal’s Nandigram and Rejinagar witnessed robust voter participation on Tuesday, recording 60.32 percent and 56.43 percent turnouts respectively by 1:00 PM. The bypolls were necessitated after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and legislator Humayun Kabir vacated these seats following dual victories in the general assembly elections.

Despite the brisk voting, polling was marred by isolated violence and high-profile administrative clampdowns. In Rejinagar, sitting Nowda legislator and Aam Janatha Unnayan Party chief Humayun Kabir was arrested for allegedly obstructing police and violating the Model Code of Conduct following a heated confrontation. Meanwhile, in Nandigram, a Communist Party of India election agent was hospitalized after a severe assault, and a local Congress block president was detained for disrupting public order.

To ensure peaceful voting in these politically sensitive belts, the Election Commission deployed heavy security, including 37 companies of Central Armed Police Forces in Nandigram and 34 in Rejinagar, alongside drone surveillance. Voting concludes at 6:00 PM, with the final results scheduled to be announced on October 9.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh