BJP fields Hasirani Rath in Nandigram as multi-cornered byelection race takes shape
BJP nominates Hasirani Rath, mother of slain aide Chandranath Rath, for the Nandigram byelection, setting up a multi-cornered contest on October 6.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has named Hasirani Rath as its candidate for the Nandigram Assembly byelection, placing the mother of Chandranath Rath — a former personal assistant to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari who was killed in May — at the centre of a prestige contest for the party.
Ms. Rath was scheduled to file her nomination on Tuesday, with the Chief Minister expected to be present.
Chandranath Rath was shot inside his vehicle in Madhyamgram in Kolkata around 10 p.m. on May 6. The Central Bureau of Investigation filed a chargesheet before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate's court in Barasat on August 7, naming 12 accused.
The Nandigram byelection follows Mr. Adhikari's decision to give up the seat after winning both Bhabanipur and Nandigram in the 2026 Assembly polls. The contest carries particular significance for the BJP and the Chief Minister, who represented Nandigram from 2021 to 2026 while serving as Leader of the Opposition.
For the Rejinagar seat, which votes alongside Nandigram on October 6, the BJP has nominated Sakharav Sarkar. That byelection was triggered by Aam Janata Unnayan Party leader Humayun Kabir's decision to vacate the seat; Mr. Kabir had won from both Naoda and Rejinagar. His son, Golam Nabi Azad, is the AJUP candidate from Rejinagar.
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress has fielded Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) from Nandigram and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury from Rejinagar. The rival Trinamool faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee has put up Mohammad Eteshamul Haque in Nandigram and Safiuzzaman in Rejinagar. Both factions have sought the party's grass and twin flowers symbol and have approached the Election Commission on the matter.
The CPI(M)-led Left Front has nominated Shanti Gopal Giri from Nandigram and Sayeed Asad Aliu from Rejinagar. The Congress has named Milan Pradhan for Nandigram and Mohd Abdullahil Kafi for Rejinagar.
With candidates announced across the spectrum, the two seats — Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district and Rejinagar in Murshidabad district — are set for a multi-cornered fight. Votes will be counted on October 9.