Vote counting for six high-profile bypolls across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry began on Friday, October 9, with the results offering an early assessment of political support in four regions. The contests include five Assembly constituencies and the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat, with the BJP, Congress, AIADMK, DMK and actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) among the key players.

Early trends placed the BJP ahead in West Bengal’s Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies and Assam’s Nagaon parliamentary seat. In Tamil Nadu, TVK was competing closely with established parties in Madurantakam and Dharapuram. Puducherry’s Thattanchavady seat saw a strong performance by the ruling All India NR Congress (AINRC), whose candidate Ashok Anand won by a margin of 8,474 votes, according to reported results. <Cite refs={[“turn452703search0″,”turn452703news36″,”turn452703search2”]}/>

The results are being watched for their political significance beyond the constituencies involved. West Bengal’s bypolls mark the BJP’s first electoral test since it ended the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year rule in the state, while the Tamil Nadu contests offer an opportunity to assess TVK’s ability to translate its growing popularity into electoral gains.

BJP takes early lead in Bengal

The BJP established a strong position in Nandigram and Rejinagar as counting progressed, with its candidates Hasirani Rath and Shankharavh Sarkar ahead of their rivals. The leads drew attention because both constituencies have distinct political histories and voter profiles.

Nandigram became vacant after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari chose to retain Bhabanipur, where he defeated former chief minister Mamata Banerjee, rather than Nandigram following the 2026 Assembly elections. The constituency has long been a prominent battleground in West Bengal politics, making the bypoll an important test of the BJP’s position in the region.

In Rejinagar, the vacancy arose after Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief Humayun Kabir decided to retain Naoda, having won both seats in the Assembly elections. His son, Golam Nabi Azad, contested the bypoll, while the BJP fielded Shankharavh Sarkar.

The BJP’s lead in Rejinagar was particularly notable because the constituency has a substantial Muslim population and has traditionally posed a challenge for the party. Congress candidate Abdullahil Kafi was also in the contest, alongside other political candidates.

The bypolls were held amid allegations by opposition parties of irregularities and voter intimidation during polling. The BJP rejected the allegations, while the Election Commission described polling as largely peaceful. The final results will help determine whether the BJP can consolidate its position in these constituencies. <Cite refs={[“turn452703search0″,”turn452703news35″,”turn452703news38”]}/>

TVK faces crucial test in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu’s Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly bypolls emerged as important contests for TVK, led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. The party was seeking to strengthen its electoral position against established players, particularly the AIADMK and DMK.

In Madurantakam, TVK candidate K. Maragatham Kumaravel was leading DMK nominee I. Paranthamen and AIADMK candidate S. Kanithasampath in early counting rounds. In Dharapuram, the contest was closer, with AIADMK candidate K. Banumathi initially moving ahead of TVK’s P. Sathyabama before the trends shifted as counting progressed.

The contrasting trends made the two constituencies a test of TVK’s organisational strength and its ability to convert public support into votes. The party’s performance is also significant for the AIADMK, which is seeking to retain its support base amid defections and changing political alliances.

Both constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates. Madurantakam recorded a voter turnout of 86.26%, while Dharapuram registered 80.30%, according to reported figures. These were lower than the turnout recorded during the April Assembly elections. <Cite refs={[“turn452703search0″,”turn452703news37″,”turn452703news42”]}/>

BJP candidate leads in Nagaon

In Assam, BJP candidate Devasish Sharma was ahead in the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll, leading AIUDF chief Mohammed Badruddin Ajmal by more than 52,000 votes at one stage of counting, according to The New Indian Express.

Congress candidate Sibamoni Bora was also in the race, making it a three-way contest involving the BJP, Congress and AIUDF. Sharma, a former IAS officer, was seeking to secure the seat for the BJP against two established political rivals.

The bypoll was necessitated after Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the Lok Sabha and subsequently won the Dispur Assembly seat on a BJP ticket. Nagaon recorded a voter turnout of 76.19% during polling on October 6.

Although the contest is politically significant for the parties involved, the result will not change the balance of power in the Lok Sabha. <Cite refs={[“turn452703search0″,”turn452703search1”]}/>

AINRC wins Thattanchavady

In Puducherry, AINRC candidate Ashok Anand secured the Thattanchavady Assembly seat, defeating Congress candidate E. Vinayagam by 8,474 votes, according to reported results.

The seat became vacant after Chief Minister N. Rangasamy decided to retain Mangalam, where he had also won in the Assembly elections. Anand contested with the backing of the BJP and AIADMK, making the result a boost for the ruling alliance.

The victory strengthens AINRC’s position in Puducherry and offers the government an electoral endorsement as it continues its term. <Cite refs={[“turn452703search0″,”turn452703search2”]}/>

What the bypoll results indicate

The six contests highlight different political trends across the four regions. The BJP’s leads in West Bengal and Assam point to a strong showing in the early rounds, while TVK’s performance in Tamil Nadu is being closely monitored as a measure of Vijay’s political momentum.

The results also matter for the Congress, AIADMK and other regional parties as they assess their support bases and prepare for future electoral battles.

However, bypolls are shaped by local factors, candidate choices and constituency-specific issues, and should not automatically be treated as a verdict on state-wide political sentiment. Final margins and confirmed results remain crucial to understanding the wider implications.

As counting progresses, the contests are expected to provide a clearer picture of voter preferences and the relative strength of the parties involved.