October 6 Bypolls Announced: Election Commission Sets High-Stakes Polls Across Tamil Nadu, Bengal, Puducherry and Assam
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has announced October 6, 2026, as polling day for bye-elections to five Assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha constituency, setting up contests across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal and Assam. The announcement puts the poll body at the centre of fresh political activity in six constituencies, with voting to be followed by counting on October 9.
The six constituencies are Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu, Thattanchavady in Puducherry, Rejinagar and Nandigram in West Bengal, and Nagaon in Assam. The Assembly By-Elections involve five state seats, while Nagaon is the only parliamentary contest in the schedule.
Election dates and six constituencies
According to DD India, the Election Commission announced the schedule on September 7, with the formal notification due on September 9. Candidates can file nominations until September 16, while scrutiny will take place on September 17. The withdrawal deadline is September 19.
Polling is scheduled for October 6 and counting for October 9. The entire process is expected to conclude by October 11. The poll panel has also said that EVMs and VVPAT systems will be used at all polling stations.
West Bengal contests put Nandigram in focus
West Bengal will hold Assembly By-Elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar. Nandigram is expected to draw particular attention because its vacancy followed the resignation of Suvendu Adhikari, who won more than one seat in the 2026 state election and retained another constituency.
Rejinagar also became vacant after its elected representative resigned after winning another seat. The two contests could therefore become important tests of how parties position themselves after the recent Assembly election.
With the Model Code of Conduct taking effect immediately in the districts concerned, the Election Commission has moved the contests into the formal campaign phase.
Tamil Nadu and Puducherry face fresh contests
Tamil Nadu will see voting in Madurantakam and Dharapuram, both reserved Assembly constituencies. The seats became vacant after their sitting MLAs resigned and subsequently changed political alignment.
Puducherry will also vote in Thattanchavady. The vacancy arose after N. Rangasamy resigned from the constituency and retained another seat following the Assembly election.
The October 6 vote makes these Assembly By-Elections an early political test after the 2026 state polls, particularly for parties seeking to strengthen their position in newly contested constituencies.
Nagaon adds parliamentary stakes
The Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency in Assam is the lone parliamentary seat in the schedule. The seat became vacant after Congress leader Pradyut Bordoloi resigned before moving into state-level electoral politics.
The contest gives voters in Nagaon a chance to choose a new representative while parties seek to establish their strength in a constituency that has attracted political attention.
The Assembly By-Elections and the Nagaon contest will use EVMs and VVPATs, with the poll panel saying adequate equipment and arrangements are being made for polling.
What voters need to know now
The immediate timetable is now clear: notification on September 9, nominations through September 16, scrutiny on September 17, withdrawals by September 19, polling on October 6 and counting on October 9.
For the Election Commission, the next challenge will be ensuring orderly polling and compliance with the Model Code of Conduct across the affected districts. For political parties, the Assembly By-Elections provide an opportunity to test organisation, candidate selection and voter support only months after the 2026 Assembly elections.
The six contests will proceed under the announced timetable, with the full election process scheduled to end by October 11.
