Bye-Elections 2026: Voting Underway Across Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Assam; EVM Issues and Polling Complaints Reported

Yugcharan News / 06-10-2026

Polling began on Tuesday, October 6, for bye-elections to five Assembly constituencies across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, along with the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency in Assam. Voting commenced at 7 a.m. amid security arrangements, with allegations of EVM malfunctions, voter intimidation and other polling-related issues emerging from some constituencies.

In West Bengal, voting is taking place in the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies, while Tamil Nadu is holding bypolls in Madurantakam and Dharapuram. Puducherry's Thattanchavady Assembly constituency is also going to the polls. The Nagaon Lok Sabha seat in Assam is witnessing a triangular contest involving the BJP, Congress and AIUDF.

Counting of votes is scheduled for October 9.

Allegations of EVM Problems and Voter Intimidation in Nandigram

Polling in Nandigram has been accompanied by allegations from Congress leaders concerning EVM malfunctions, voter intimidation, booth capturing and proxy voting.

Congress leaders said they had sent multiple emails to the police and the general observer seeking immediate intervention over the alleged irregularities.

The allegations have been raised while voting continues and have not been independently established. Election authorities are responsible for examining complaints and taking action wherever required.

The Nandigram contest has attracted considerable political attention. BJP candidate Hasirani Rath, the mother of the deceased personal assistant of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, cast her vote after beginning the day with prayers.

The BJP's Keya Ghosh also expressed confidence about the party's prospects in Nandigram and Rejinagar.

According to figures available by 9 a.m., voter turnout stood at 20.89% in Nandigram and 18.05% in Rejinagar.

AJUP Chief Humayun Kabir Detained in Rejinagar

Aam Janata Unnayan Party chief Humayun Kabir was detained in Rejinagar following a verbal altercation with police personnel.

Kabir was reportedly present at the party office during polling when police officials told him that he could not remain there because of polling-day protocols. He was subsequently taken to Rejinagar police station.

The AJUP has fielded Kabir's son, Golam Nabi Azad, as its candidate from the constituency.

Kabir had earlier claimed that the BJP had little chance of winning the Rejinagar bypoll. He also referred to the votes he had secured when he contested the constituency in the April 2026 election.

The circumstances surrounding his detention are subject to the accounts of the concerned parties.

Congress Worker Detained in Nandigram

Congress also alleged that its block president Asraful Tulla was detained during polling in Nandigram.

According to the party, Tulla was sitting at a booth camp outside his polling station in Nandigram Anchal when police officials arrived and took him to Nandigram police station.

The allegation comes amid heightened attention on polling arrangements in the constituency. Election officials and police authorities are expected to address complaints concerning the conduct of the voting process.

EVM Glitches Reported in Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu's Madurantakam Assembly constituency, technical problems involving electronic voting machines were reported at multiple polling stations.

At booth number 26 in Sithandi, the control unit reportedly had to be replaced twice following technical glitches.

Another issue arose at booth number 55 in L. Endathur, where polling agents objected to a mark visible on the name of one of the candidates on the ballot unit. The ballot unit was subsequently changed.

Polling initially proceeded slowly in Madurantakam but later picked up. The constituency recorded a voter turnout of 15.99% by 9.30 a.m., according to the District Election Officer.

Madurantakam has 2,13,788 registered voters, including 1,04,926 men, 1,08,797 women and 65 transgender voters.

Chengalpattu Collector M. Veerappan said web streaming had been arranged at sensitive polling stations and one Central Armed Police Force personnel had been deployed at each vulnerable polling station. Micro-observers were also deployed across the constituency's polling stations.

According to the Collector, an EVM malfunction was reported at polling station number 26, after which the machine was replaced and certified by engineers.

Dharapuram Records 17.55% Turnout

Voting is also underway in Dharapuram, a reserved Assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu's Tiruppur district.

Voter turnout stood at 17.55% by 9 a.m. according to the available figures.

Polling was temporarily halted at a booth in Kottapulipalayam in Mulanur block after an EVM became dysfunctional. Voting resumed after the machine was replaced.

Voters were seen arriving at polling stations in both rural and urban areas. Among those who exercised their franchise was octogenarian voter Devi, who was assisted by relatives at a polling station in T. Nanjiyampalayam.

The Madurantakam and Dharapuram seats were declared vacant following the resignation of Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama.

Thattanchavady Bypoll in Puducherry

Polling is also taking place in the Thattanchavady Assembly constituency in Puducherry.

A total of 11 candidates are contesting the election, with 26,921 electors eligible to vote. The electorate includes 14,341 women, 12,575 men and five transgender voters.

Polling began at 7 a.m. and is scheduled to continue until 6 p.m.

The contest is being closely watched because it comes only four months after the formation of the NDA government led by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy. His resignation from the Thattanchavady seat necessitated the by-election.

The ruling AINRC-led NDA, Congress and the DMK are among the major political forces involved in the contest.

Voter turnout in Thattanchavady stood at 19.2% by 9 a.m.

Nagaon Lok Sabha Seat Sees Triangular Contest

In Assam, voting began at 7 a.m. for the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election.

The contest involves the BJP, Congress and AIUDF, with a total of 15 candidates in the fray, including nine Independents.

The by-election was necessitated after Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned and subsequently contested the Assembly election from Dispur on a BJP ticket.

Although the result is not expected to alter the balance of power in the Lok Sabha, the constituency has emerged as an important electoral contest for the parties involved.

Voters, including a large number of women, were seen queuing outside polling stations from the early morning.

West Bengal Electoral Roll Concerns

The bypolls in West Bengal are also taking place against the backdrop of concerns involving thousands of voters whose appeals remain pending before appellate tribunals.

Nearly 19,000 voters in Nandigram and Rejinagar are among voters whose cases remain unresolved, according to the information available in connection with the electoral process.

The issue has drawn attention because voting is taking place in both constituencies while appeals concerning voter status remain pending.

Nandigram Police Officer Replaced Before Polling

The Election Commission replaced the officer-in-charge of Nandigram police station on October 5, a day before polling.

Debashis Sarkar was appointed in place of Ajay Kumar Mishra.

The change followed complaints from Opposition parties, which had alleged that Mishra was close to the ruling party. The allegations were cited in connection with the request for his replacement.

The Election Commission's decision came immediately before voting in the constituency.

Tamil Nadu Bypolls Carry Political Significance

The two Tamil Nadu bypolls are being closely watched because of their wider political significance.

Campaigning for the elections involved senior leaders from the ruling and Opposition camps, including Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, DMK president M.K. Stalin, Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin and AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

The outcome will determine the political standing of the parties in the two constituencies and will be closely examined by the respective camps.

With polling continuing across the constituencies, election authorities are monitoring EVM-related complaints and other polling issues. The final results will be declared after counting on October 9.