BJP Fields Hasirani Rath in Nandigram, Sakharav Sarkar in Rejinagar for Bypolls

The BJP on Tuesday announced its candidates for the upcoming bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar, naming Hasirani Rath for the Nandigram assembly seat and Sakharav Sarkar for Rejinagar.

Rath is the mother of Chandranath Rath, who had served as a personal assistant to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and was shot dead in North 24 Parganas in May. According to the available account, Chandranath was travelling in a car at Madhyamgram on May 6 when motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly opened fire. He died after being taken to hospital, while the driver was injured. The case was first investigated by the state police and a Special Investigation Team before being handed over to the CBI.

Her candidature had been the subject of speculation in Nandigram, and she appeared to confirm it earlier on Tuesday by offering prayers at the Siddheshwar Shiv Temple and the Jankinath Temple there, ahead of the party's formal announcement. Accompanied by a large procession of party workers and supporters, she was scheduled to file her nomination in Haldia later in the day, with Adhikari also expected to attend.

Rath said she has been active in politics since 1998 and has served twice as a panchayat member and three times as a panchayat samiti member. Describing Adhikari as the guardian of her family, she said she would discharge any responsibility entrusted to her by the party with sincerity. After the temple visits, she expressed happiness at being chosen and confidence of winning the seat by a margin of 1.10 lakh votes.

The nomination gives the BJP's Nandigram campaign an emotive dimension, combining the personal narrative surrounding Chandranath's killing with the constituency's wider political symbolism. Adhikari had won both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in the 2026 assembly elections before retaining Bhabanipur and vacating Nandigram, necessitating the bypoll.

In Rejinagar, the party has opted for an organisationally experienced face. Sarkar is a former Murshidabad district president and a current member of the party's state committee.

Both constituencies are witnessing multi-cornered contests, with the BJP entering the fray after the Congress, the Left and the two rival TMC factions announced their candidates. The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction has nominated Sanchita Pradhan Dey in Nandigram and former MLA Rabiul Alam Chowdhury in Rejinagar. The rebel TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee has fielded Mohammad Eteshamul Haque and Safiuzzaman Sheikh respectively.

The Congress has nominated Milan Pradhan in Nandigram and Abdullahil Kafi in Rejinagar, while the Left has fielded CPI's Shantigopal Giri and CPI(M)'s Syeed Asad Ali. The RSP, which disagreed with the CPI(M) over seat-sharing, is contesting Rejinagar separately with Bikash Chandra Mishra as its nominee.

The Rejinagar contest carries an additional family and political dimension. Aam Janata Unnayan Party founder Humayun Kabir had won both Rejinagar and Nowda in the 2026 assembly polls and subsequently vacated Rejinagar. He has now backed his son Golam Nabi Azad, popularly known as Robin, for the seat.

The bypolls were announced against the backdrop of a dispute over the TMC's organisational control and election symbol, with the Election Commission expected to take a decision this week on whether either faction will contest under the TMC's 'twin flowers on grass' symbol or be allotted temporary symbols.

Nandigram and Rejinagar will vote on October 6, with September 16 being the last date for filing nominations. Counting will take place on October 9.