Campaigning ends ahead of by-elections across India
Campaigning has ended for by-elections to five state assembly seats in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and one Lok Sabha seat in Assam. Voting is scheduled for October 6, with results due on October 9. The contests feature multi-party races shaped by vacant seats, defections and recent political changes.
Campaigning ended at 5pm on Sunday for by-elections to five Assembly constituencies in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and one Lok Sabha constituency in Assam. Polling is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, while counting will take place on Friday, October 9. The contests include a parliamentary race in Assam’s Nagaon and Assembly by-elections across three states and one Union Territory.
Nagaon has about 1.907 million voters and 15 candidates. The contest is expected to centre on BJP candidate Devasish Sharma, Congress candidate Sibamoni Bora and All India United Democratic Front leader Mohammed Badruddin Ajmal. The seat became vacant after Pradyut Bordoloi, who won it for Congress in 2024, joined the BJP before the 2026 Assembly election and won the Dispur Assembly seat.
Campaigning in Nagaon featured rallies, roadshows, sharp exchanges and clashes, mainly involving BJP and Congress supporters. West Bengal will vote in Nandigram and Rejinagar. Nandigram became vacant after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari chose to retain another seat he won.
The contest has been marked by changes in candidates and the arrest and later bail of Congress nominee Milan Pradhan in a case linked to a 2007 anti-land acquisition protest. Tamil Nadu’s Madurantakam and Dharapuram seats were vacated after AIADMK legislators Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama resigned and joined the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.
The races involve alliances led by TVK, DMK and AIADMK, alongside the Left and Naam Tamilar Katchi. In Puducherry, Thattanchavady became vacant after Chief Minister N. Rangasamy retained another constituency.
Congress, DMK, AINRC and CPI are contesting the seat. TVK president and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay held a roadshow in Dharapuram on the final campaign day, while the DMK conducted an extensive campaign in both Tamil Nadu constituencies.
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