BJP wins two West Bengal assembly by-elections

The Bharatiya Janata Party won assembly by-elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar. The Election Commission of India confirmed the October 9 results.

In Nandigram, Hasi Rani Rath defeated Indian National Congress candidate Milan Pradhan by 122,753 votes. She received 164,427 votes against his 41,674. The commission's official portal marked her as the winner after all 17 counting rounds were completed.

Rath is the mother of Chandranath Rath, the slain personal assistant to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The by-elections tested the BJP's position five months after it took office in West Bengal, ending the Trinamool Congress's 15-year rule.

In Rejinagar, Shankharavh Sarkar defeated Golam Nabi Azad of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party by 75,816 votes. Sarkar received 129,914 votes against Azad's 54,098. The commission confirmed the result after 15 rounds.

Rejinagar is in Murshidabad district and has a Muslim-majority population. The BJP's victory there accompanied its retention of Nandigram. Both official result cards were The commission notes that final constituency data will be provided in Form-20.