Stories
Why Bypolls in Nandigram and Tamil Nadu Matter Beyond the Seats
- •Polling in Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal and Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu carries political significance far beyond the four individual constituencies.
- •Nandigram serves as the first major electoral test for the BJP government in West Bengal and a crucial validation of Suvendu Adhikari's enduring local influence.
- •Mamata Banerjee is backing a Congress candidate against the BJP in Nandigram, creating a complex opposition alliance dynamic following her 2021 defeat in the seat.
- •In Tamil Nadu, the bypolls test whether Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's political momentum has survived the transition from campaigner to governing leader.
- •Two former AIADMK MLAs who won in April and joined Vijay's TVK are now contesting as TVK candidates, making it a test of party loyalty versus individual voter base.
Key Questions Answered
The Nandigram assembly seat fell vacant after Suvendu Adhikari resigned from it following his victory in both Nandigram and Bhabanipur during the 2026 assembly elections. This triggered the October 6 bypoll, serving as the first major electoral checkpoint for the BJP government that ended the TMC's rule earlier that year.
The BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath, who is the mother of Chandranath Rath, a former aide of Suvendu Adhikari who was killed in May. Adhikari has campaigned aggressively for her to retain his political influence in his old constituency.
The bypolls are a crucial litmus test for Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and his party, TVK, to check whether their political momentum and support base have survived the transition into government. Both seats became vacant after AIADMK MLAs resigned shortly after winning the April assembly election to join TVK, and they are now contesting again as TVK candidates.
