Politics
Rejinagar By‑Election: AJUP Accuses Police of Voter Suppression Amid Humayun Kabir’s Arrest
On Tuesday, October 6 2026, voting began for five assembly by‑polls in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and for a Lok Sabha by‑poll in Assam. In West Bengal, the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) candidate Golam Nabi Azad said voters in Rejinagar were being prevented from exercising their franchise. He added that party workers, leaders and voters had faced intimidation for nearly two months and that police had conducted house raids, vandalised properties and threatened people in areas with a sizeable minority electorate. Azad said, “If people were able to cast their votes, I would have accepted the result. But people are not being allowed to exercise their franchise. What is the use of such a by‑election?”
The allegations come after AJUP chief Humayun Kabir was arrested following a verbal altercation with police. Kabir, who was not a candidate in the by‑poll and was not an authorised election agent, was taken to Rejinagar police station. The arrest was reported by the SDPO, Anandajit Hore, who said, “He has been arrested. No further comments.”
In the same day’s polling, the Rejinagar constituency recorded a 56.435 % turnout, while Nandigram recorded 60.32 %. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said polling in Nandigram had been peaceful and expressed hope for a record turnout. He added that he would not comment on the outcome of the polls due to the model code of conduct.
The Assam Lok Sabha by‑poll in Nagaon is a three‑way contest among the BJP, Congress and AIUDF. Voter turnout in Nagaon was 56.35 % by 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
In Tamil Nadu, the by‑polls in Madurantakam and Dharapuram began at 7 a.m. The turnout was 55.19 % and 56.09 % respectively by 1 p.m. The TVK candidate in Dharapuram, P. Sathyabama, was recorded in a video claiming she spent ₹31 crore on the election; the video has been submitted to the Election Commission for action.
In Puducherry, the Thattanchavady by‑poll saw a 56.31 % turnout by 1 p.m. The polling was described as brisk, with arrangements for voter assistance in place.
The by‑polls across the states were conducted under tight security, with CAPF units deployed at vulnerable polling stations and web‑streaming of sensitive areas as instructed by the Election Commission.