Bypoll results: BJP wins Nandigram and Rejinagar, TVK takes both Tamil Nadu seats
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In by-polls counted Oct 9, 2026, BJP won Nandigram and Rejinagar, TVK won Dharapuram and Madurantakam, and AINRC took Thattanchavady in Puducherry.
What Happened
Votes were counted on Friday, October 9, 2026, in by-elections to five Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat held on October 6. The Bharatiya Janata Party won both West Bengal seats, Nandigram and Rejinagar, and its candidate was far ahead in Assam's Nagaon Lok Sabha seat during counting. In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) won both Madurantakam and Dharapuram, defeating DMK candidates. In Puducherry, Ashok Anand of the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC), an ally of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, won Thattanchavady. The Election Commission of India had announced the by-elections on September 8.
Key Facts
- Six seats went to by-elections on October 6, 2026, with counting on October 9: Nandigram and Rejinagar (West Bengal), Madurantakam (SC) and Dharapuram (SC) (Tamil Nadu), Thattanchavady (Puducherry) and the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat (Assam).
- In Nandigram, BJP candidate Hasi Rani Rath defeated Congress's Milan Pradhan by more than 1.2 lakh votes, according to reported results.
- The BJP also won Rejinagar in West Bengal.
- In Dharapuram, TVK's P. Sathyabama won with 66,841 votes, beating DMK's S. Suganya, who polled 57,370, a margin of 9,471.
- In Madurantakam, TVK's Maragatham Kumaravel defeated DMK's I. Paranthaman.
- In Nagaon, BJP's Devasish Sharma held a lead of well over one lakh votes over AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal during counting.
- AINRC's Ashok Anand won Thattanchavady in Puducherry.
Why It Matters
By-elections rarely change who governs, but they are the first direct test of how voters feel about the governments they recently chose. These polls came months after big political changes in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, and the results suggest both ruling parties still have strong public backing.
In West Bengal, the BJP now runs the state government under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Nandigram has long been one of the most closely watched seats in Bengal politics. A margin of more than 1.2 lakh votes for the BJP there, together with a win in Rejinagar, indicates that the party has consolidated its position since taking power. It is also notable that the main challenger in Nandigram was the Congress rather than the Trinamool Congress, a sign of how far the state's opposition space has shifted.
In Tamil Nadu, TVK, the party led by Chief Minister Vijay, faced the DMK directly in both seats. Winning both reserved constituencies will strengthen TVK's claim that its support is broad and not a one-time wave, and will push the DMK to reassess its strategy.
In Assam, a large lead for the BJP against AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal points to continued strength for the ruling party in the state. In Puducherry, the AINRC win keeps the NDA's position steady in the Union Territory's Assembly.
| Seat | State | Winner (party) |
|---|---|---|
| Nandigram | West Bengal | Hasi Rani Rath (BJP) |
| Rejinagar | West Bengal | BJP candidate |
| Dharapuram (SC) | Tamil Nadu | P. Sathyabama (TVK) |
| Madurantakam (SC) | Tamil Nadu | Maragatham Kumaravel (TVK) |
| Thattanchavady | Puducherry | Ashok Anand (AINRC) |
Impact
Short-term: The winners take their seats, adding to the ruling sides' numbers in the West Bengal and Tamil Nadu Assemblies and in Puducherry. Ruling parties in all three places will present the results as an endorsement of their governments.
Long-term: The results will shape opposition strategy, particularly for the DMK in Tamil Nadu and for the Trinamool Congress and the Congress in West Bengal, ahead of local body and future general elections.
Who is affected: Voters in the six constituencies, who now have representatives in place; state governments in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry; and opposition parties assessing their standing.
Key Takeaway
Counting on October 9 gave the BJP clear wins in West Bengal and a big lead in Assam, while Tamil Nadu's ruling TVK won both its by-elections against the DMK.
Questions and Answers
Which seats were counted on October 9, 2026?
Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal, Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu, Thattanchavady in Puducherry, and the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat in Assam.
Who won the Nandigram by-election?
BJP candidate Hasi Rani Rath won, defeating Congress's Milan Pradhan by more than 1.2 lakh votes, according to reported results.
How did TVK do in Tamil Nadu?
Chief Minister Vijay's TVK won both seats: P. Sathyabama took Dharapuram by 9,471 votes and Maragatham Kumaravel won Madurantakam, both against DMK candidates.
Where can I check the official final figures?
The Election Commission of India publishes constituency-wise results on its official results portal, which is the authoritative source for final vote counts and margins.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
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