Bengal Bypolls: 19.47% Voting Recorded in First Two Hours

Nandigram recorded a turnout of 20.89 per cent till 9 a.m., while Rejinagar registered 18.05 per cent during the same period.

The initial turnout was considered significant as voter participation in by-elections is generally lower compared with elections held across larger constituencies or during general elections.

Polling remained largely peaceful in the first two hours, although isolated incidents were reported from both constituencies.

In Murshidabad, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer sought a report from the district administration following the arrest of Aam Janata Unnayan Party founder and legislator Humayun Kabir.

Police accused Kabir of repeatedly threatening personnel and allegedly grabbing the collar of an officer on duty. His son, Golam Nabi Azad, is contesting the Rejinagar bypoll.

A district police officer said Kabir was neither a candidate nor a polling agent for his son and therefore was not authorised to move between polling booths or make provocative statements. The officer said Kabir had violated election-related rules since the morning and was subsequently arrested.

The CPI(M) alleged that its polling agents were being prevented from entering or sitting inside some booths in the Dadpur area of Rejinagar. The party specifically claimed that its agents were not being allowed to sit at booths 112, 113, 114 and 122.

Nandigram also witnessed a brief spell of tension after Congress candidate Milan Pradhan alleged that BJP supporters had forcibly removed his polling agents from some booths. He further alleged that Central forces deployed at the locations did not intervene.

BJP candidate Hasirani Rath rejected the allegations, claiming that opposition parties were making false accusations. Congress has lodged a complaint with the office of the Chief Electoral Officer over the alleged removal of its polling agents.

Police also arrested Sheikh Asraful Tulla, the Congress president of Nandigram Block-1. The Congress alleged that Tulla was unnecessarily detained during polling.

A district Congress leader criticised the arrest and alleged that democratic processes were being undermined in the area, adding that the relevant authorities had been informed.

Despite the complaints and isolated incidents, voting continued in both Nandigram and Rejinagar during the morning, with authorities keeping a watch on the situation as polling progressed.