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Politics
BJP eyes early test of its rule in West Bengal bypolls at Nandigram, Rejinagar
✍️ The Economic Times
🗓 05 Oct 2026, 03:43 PM
👁 5
The upcoming by‑elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar will be the first major contest for the BJP‑led central government in West Bengal, gauging its influence in the state.
The Election Commission has scheduled by‑polls for the Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly constituencies in West Bengal. These contests will be the first significant electoral challenge for the BJP‑led Union government since it assumed office after the 2024 general elections.
Both seats were previously held by the Trinamool Congress, which has dominated state politics for over a decade. The BJP is fielding candidates with the aim of translating its national momentum into a foothold in the state’s rural heartland.
Political analysts say the outcome will offer an early barometer of how the new central administration’s policies are resonating with West Bengal voters, especially on issues such as employment, infrastructure and law‑and‑order.
The by‑polls are also being watched closely by opposition parties, which view them as a litmus test for the durability of the Trinamool’s regional dominance.
Voter turnout and the final result, expected in the coming weeks, will shape the narrative around the BJP’s ability to expand its base beyond traditional strongholds.
Both seats were previously held by the Trinamool Congress, which has dominated state politics for over a decade. The BJP is fielding candidates with the aim of translating its national momentum into a foothold in the state’s rural heartland.
Political analysts say the outcome will offer an early barometer of how the new central administration’s policies are resonating with West Bengal voters, especially on issues such as employment, infrastructure and law‑and‑order.
The by‑polls are also being watched closely by opposition parties, which view them as a litmus test for the durability of the Trinamool’s regional dominance.
Voter turnout and the final result, expected in the coming weeks, will shape the narrative around the BJP’s ability to expand its base beyond traditional strongholds.