File image of Hasirani Rath. Photo: X/@SuvenduWB
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) nominated Hasirani Rath as party candidate for Nandigram Assembly byelection. Ms. Rath is the mother of Chandranath Rath, former personal assistant of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari who was killed in May 6 2026.
Ms. Rath will file her nomination to contest the polls on September 15, and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is likely to be present during the event. Chandranath Rath was shot inside his vehicle in Madhyamgram in Kolkata around 10 p.m. on May 6. The CBI had filed a chargesheet before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court in Barasat on August 7, which names 12 accused.
The byelection at Nandigram is being held because Mr. Adhikari relinquished the seat after getting elected from Bhabanipur and Nandigram both during the 2026 Assembly polls. The byelection is a prestige battle for the BJP particularly the Chief Minister who had represented the seat from 2021-26, when he was Leader of the Opposition.
The BJP has nominated Sakharav Sarkar from Rejinagar where by-polls will be held with Nandigram on October 6. The Mamata Banerjee led faction of Trinamool Congress has fielded Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) from Nandigram and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury from Rejinagar seat. The other Trinamool faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee has fielded Mohammad Eteshamul Haque from Nandigram and Safiuzzaman from Rejinagar in Murshidabad.
Both the factions of Trinamool have sought the grass and twin flowers symbol of the party and have approached Election Commission for this.
The CPI(M)-led Left Front has nominated Sayeed Asad Aliu from Rejinagar and Shanti Gopal Giri from Nandigram. The Congress has nominated Mohd Abdullahil Kafi from Rejinagar and Milan Pradhan from Nandigram.
The byelection at Rejinagar is being held following the decision of Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) leader Humayun Kabir to vacate the seat. Mr. Kabir, who had won from both Naoda and Rejinagar, decided to give up Rejinagar. His son Golam Nabi Azad is the AJUP candidate from Rejinagar.
With every faction now announcing candidates, the stage is set for an electoral contest on two seats – Nandigram, located in Purba Medinipur district and Rejinagar in Murshidabad district. The counting of votes will be held on October 9.
Published – September 15, 2026 12:23 pm IST
