Turnout in Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal approached 80% by evening. Candidates from several parties alleged voter intimidation and irregularities, while polling in Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry was largely peaceful.
By-elections across four Indian regions on Tuesday drew high but uneven turnout. More than 80% of voters in West Bengal’s Nandigram had cast ballots by 7 p.m., while turnout in Rejinagar also reached 80%, the Times of India reported. ThePrint, citing the Press Trust of India, put turnout across the two Bengal constituencies at about 79% by 5 p.m.
Voting in both constituencies was accompanied by competing allegations. Congress candidate Milan Pradhan in Nandigram called the election “looted” and said his agents had been blocked from polling stations and voters denied entry. CPI and ISF candidates also alleged rigging. These are claims by participants in the election, not established findings of an investigation.
In Rejinagar, police detained AJUP chief Humayun Kabir, accusing him of provoking tension. The Times of India said he was held for about 12 hours. Police also intervened in a confrontation involving BJP candidate Shankharavh Sarkar. Kabir’s son, Golam Nabi Azad, was the AJUP candidate.
In Tamil Nadu, turnout in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram constituencies was reported at 86% and 80%. In the April elections, the figures were 93% and 89%, respectively. Both contests involved three-way races among TVK, DMK and AIADMK.
Fifteen candidates contested the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election in Assam, where turnout was 76%. In Puducherry’s Thattanchavady, 78% had voted by 5 p.m.; the final figure was expected to rise. Counting is scheduled for October 9.