West Bengal Political Tensions Continue Ahead of Bypolls

Political activity has intensified in West Bengal ahead of the upcoming Assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Trinamool Congress (TMC), Congress and other political groups involved in competing campaigns and public allegations. The bypolls are scheduled for October 6, 2026, with counting scheduled for October 9.

The political situation has become particularly significant in Nandigram, where several developments have changed the electoral contest in a short period. The TMC faction led by Mamata Banerjee initially fielded Sanchita Pradhan Dey as its candidate. She later withdrew her nomination after meeting Suvendu Adhikari, according to reports. The circumstances surrounding the withdrawal have become a subject of political discussion, although the candidate has not publicly provided a detailed explanation for the decision.

Following the withdrawal, Mamata Banerjee announced support for Congress candidate Milan Pradhan in the Nandigram bypoll. The development came amid a wider dispute within the TMC and an Election Commission decision concerning the names and symbols available to rival factions of the party.

The Nandigram contest then faced another major development when Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was arrested in connection with an old case dating back to the 2007 anti-land-acquisition movement in Nandigram. Police authorities cited pending warrants in connection with the case. Congress leaders have questioned the timing of the arrest and alleged political motivation, while the authorities and political opponents have presented the matter in the context of the pending legal proceedings.

The issue subsequently reached the Calcutta High Court. On September 22, the West Bengal government informed the court that it had withdrawn five cases against Pradhan and said that he had been arrested in five of 11 cases registered against him, with warrants pending since 2021. The court orally directed the state to refrain from further coercive action, with the matter scheduled for further hearing on October 12. Pradhan remains in judicial custody in connection with the cases stemming from the 2007 protests.

The developments have produced different political responses. Congress leaders have described the arrest as politically motivated and said the party would continue its electoral campaign. TMC representatives have defended the implementation of legal processes, while the BJP has rejected allegations of political pressure and has focused its campaign on issues including governance, development and employment. These positions are claims made by the respective political parties and should be distinguished from independently established facts.

The political contest is not limited to Nandigram. Rejinagar is also scheduled to hold a bypoll on October 6. Reports have described disputes involving candidates and allegations of pressure, while authorities have taken action in connection with separate cases. These developments have added another layer to the political activity surrounding the two constituencies.

The wider political environment in West Bengal has also been affected by the internal dispute within the Trinamool Congress. The Election Commission has taken decisions concerning the names and symbols that can be used by rival TMC factions, adding an organisational dimension to the electoral contest. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction has challenged the Election Commission’s decision in the Supreme Court and has sought restoration of the original party name and symbol.

The Nandigram bypoll carries particular political significance because the constituency has previously been a major centre of West Bengal’s political contest between Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari. The two leaders were associated with opposing political camps during the 2021 Assembly election, making Nandigram an important constituency in the state’s political history.

With the bypolls approaching, parties are continuing campaigning, candidate outreach and organisational mobilisation. The competing allegations concerning arrests, candidate withdrawals and political pressure have also brought attention to questions about the conduct of electoral politics and the role of law-enforcement agencies during the campaign period.

The Election Commission and relevant authorities will oversee the electoral process, while courts will continue to consider legal challenges and cases connected with the developments. The final candidate lists, campaign activities and voting process will determine how the contests proceed on October 6.

The situation in West Bengal therefore remains politically active ahead of the bypolls, with developments in Nandigram and Rejinagar, the dispute involving TMC factions, and competing claims by the BJP, TMC and Congress shaping public debate. As the election approaches, further legal and political developments may affect the campaign and the issues presented to voters.