Kolkata: The Congress on Friday announced its candidates for two forthcoming West Bengal assembly by-elections, nominating Mohammed Abdullahil Kafi for Rejinagar in Murshidabad district and Milan Pradhan for Nandigram in Purba Medinipur. The selections were approved by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, the party said in a statement.
Vacancies and context
The bypolls arise from two separate vacancies. Nandigram fell vacant after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari chose to retain the Bhabanipur seat following the assembly elections earlier this year, where he defeated Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee. The Rejinagar seat was vacated by Aam Janata Unnayan Party founder Humayun Kabir, who had also contested and won from Nowda.
State election authorities have set polling for both seats on 6 October, with votes to be counted on 9 October. The by-elections will be watched closely in political circles because of Nandigram's symbolic importance and Murshidabad's role in eastern West Bengal's electoral landscape.
What the Congress choices signal
Congress's naming of Kafi and Pradhan follows the party's strategy of trying to build presence in pockets where anti-incumbency or local issues could be decisive. Both constituencies have distinct electoral profiles: Rejinagar is in a Muslim-majority belt of Murshidabad that has historically seen multi-cornered fights, while Nandigram has been a centre of intense political contestation since the 2021 agitation and since becoming the stage for a high-stakes clash between regional heavyweights.
The party statement cited internal approval by the national president for the two names. No further details were provided on seat-sharing or alliances in the districts, and Congress has not released campaign plans or local-level committees linked to these nominations.
Practical details for voters and observers
- Polling date: 6 October
- Counting date: 9 October
- Rejinagar district: Murshidabad
- Nandigram district: Purba Medinipur
Election machinery in both districts will now begin preparations for model code of conduct compliance, deployment of polling staff and security arrangements. Political parties typically step up local outreach and candidate visits in the weeks before bypolls; deadlines for withdrawal of candidature, nomination scrutiny and finalisation of electoral rolls will be notified as per the Election Commission's schedule.
| Constituency | Congress nominee | District |
|---|---|---|
| Rejinagar | Mohammed Abdullahil Kafi | Murshidabad |
| Nandigram | Milan Pradhan | Purba Medinipur |
Political backdrop in West Bengal
Nandigram has acquired outsized political significance in recent years. The seat was a flashpoint during the movement against land acquisition and later became synonymous with high-decibel electoral battles. Rejinagar, as part of Murshidabad, figures in a different register of politics — one shaped by local leaders, community networks and development concerns.
For Congress, both bypolls present opportunities to test their organisational strength after the assembly elections. Opposition parties including the BJP and regional outfits will likely field their own candidates, turning the contests into three-cornered or multi-cornered fights depending on local alliances.
Local observers say the October timeline gives parties a short window to intensify campaigning. Security and electoral officials in Purba Medinipur and Murshidabad will issue detailed schedules ahead of the polling date, including arrangements for vulnerable voters, proxy voting where applicable, and observance of polling norms.
With the administration gearing up and political parties mobilising ground resources, the by-elections will offer an early barometer of voter sentiment in two distinct parts of Bengal. The outcomes on 9 October will be scrutinised for signals that parties may interpret ahead of future contests at the local and state levels.
