Bypoll results 2026: Ruling parties hold sway in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Ass…

Minority community found friend in BJP, voted for us in bypolls, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Friday, October 9, 2026, as election results underscored a strong showing for incumbent administrations across several states.

Votes were counted on Friday following assembly and parliamentary by-elections held in these constituencies. The contests offered a direct read on how regional electorates view governments that assumed power earlier this year.

How are the ruling parties performing in West Bengal and Assam?

In West Bengal, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party maintained commanding leads in both the Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly constituencies. In Nandigram, BJP candidate Hasi Rani Rath faced off against Congress nominee Milan Pradhan. Rath surged ahead, building a significant advantage. In Rejinagar, BJP candidate Shankharavh Sarkar stayed firmly ahead through 15 rounds of counting, outpacing rivals.

Chief Minister Adhikari asserted that the results proved a dramatic shift in voter alignment, claiming the BJP secured around 60% of Muslim votes in Rejinagar and 80% in Nandigram. These by-elections were not a direct test of the BJP government's four months in power, but the results were watched to gauge the party's electoral strength after its shift from the Opposition to the ruling party.

Further north in Assam, former IAS officer and BJP candidate Devasish Sharma built a massive advantage in the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election. Sharma polled 5,28,938 votes, leaving All India United Democratic Front chief Badruddin Ajmal trailing with 3,82,758 votes and Congress nominee Sibamoni Bora in third with 95,881 votes, according to Election Commission data. The parliamentary seat went to a bypoll after Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned and successfully contested the Assembly elections from Dispur on a BJP ticket earlier this year.

What do the results mean for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry?

Tamil Nadu saw a test for the four-month-old Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. TVK candidates maintained strong leads in both the Madurantakam and Dharapuram assembly constituencies. In Madurantakam, TVK nominee K Maragatham Kumaravel led DMK rival I Paranthamen by over 14,000 votes after 14 rounds. In Dharapuram, TVK candidate Sathyabama P led by 9,350 votes after all 23 rounds of counting concluded.

Tamil Nadu Minister Nirmal Kumar hailed the numbers as an endorsement of the chief minister, telling reporters in Chennai that the outcome reflects the good governance of the 4 month old TVK government. While Opposition parties had looked to win the seats, the emerging trends indicated an overwhelming victory for the TVK.

Across the border in Puducherry, the ruling coalition secured a decisive victory in the Thattanchavady assembly seat. All India N.R. Congress candidate Ashok Anand defeated Congress rival E. Vinayagam by 8,482 votes, securing 13,358 ballots to E. Vinayagam's 4,876. The bypoll had been necessitated by the resignation of incumbent MLA and Chief Minister N Rangasamy.

Why were these particular by-elections held?

The electoral calendar was driven by various factors. The polling process in West Bengal was marked by allegations of voter intimidation, irregularities at polling booths and sporadic clashes. The arrest of Aam Janata Unnayan Party chief Humayun Kabir following a confrontation with police in Rejinagar, along with the Congress' demand for repolling in both constituencies, raised concerns over the conduct of the bypolls, though the EC described polling as more or less peaceful. In Assam, the Nagaon seat was vacated when Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned to join the BJP.

In Tamil Nadu, the bypolls were held after the TVK came to power in May. In Puducherry, the election was necessitated by the resignation of chief minister N Rangasamy from the Thattanchavady seat.

What are the next steps for the political parties?

With counting concluding across most constituencies, local election officials are set to officially certify the final vote tallies and declare winners. Parties will immediately pivot to analyzing booth-level data to prepare for upcoming legislative sessions and broader state strategies.