Election Commission announces bypolls for five assembly seats and Assam’s Nagaon Lok Sabha seat

India’s Election Commission has scheduled bypolls for six constituencies on October 6, with votes to be counted on October 9. The election process must be completed by October 11.

The contests cover the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat in Assam and five assembly seats: Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu, Thattanchavady in Puducherry, and Rejinagar and Nandigram in West Bengal. The vacancies followed resignations by sitting legislators.

Nagaon became vacant in March after Congress lawmaker Pradyut Bordoloi resigned, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and contested the assembly elections. He won the Dispur assembly seat.

In West Bengal, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari vacated Nandigram after winning both that constituency and Bhabanipur in the May 2026 assembly polls. He retained Bhabanipur, where he defeated Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee. The TMC has not responded to speculation that Banerjee might contest the Nandigram bypoll.

Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy won both Mangalam and Thattanchavady, then resigned from Thattanchavady after taking office for a fifth term. Rejinagar became vacant after former TMC leader Humayun Kabir resigned. Kabir had offered to give up the seat after Banerjee lost Bhabanipur, saying he was ready to step aside to help her return to the legislature.

In Tamil Nadu, AIADMK lawmakers Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama resigned from Madurantakam and Dharapuram and joined the ruling TVK, led by actor-politician Vijay. The Election Commission said a special revision of electoral rolls took place from February 10 to February 28, while updates will continue until nominations close.