ECI announces bypolls to five Assembly seats, one Lok Sabha constituency on October 6 - The Hindu

**Election Commission Schedules By‑polls for Five Assembly Seats and One Lok Sabha Constituency on Oct 6**

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has formally announced that by‑polls for five state‑assembly constituencies and a Lok Sabha seat will be held on **6 October 2026**. The assembly contests cover two seats in Tamil Nadu, one in Puducherry, and two in West Bengal, while the lone parliamentary poll will be in the Nagaon constituency of Assam. The schedule was disclosed in a press release that also set the last date for filing nominations on 26 September and the voting date for 6 October, with results expected to be declared on 9 October.

The vacancies triggering the polls stem from a mix of resignations, deaths and disqualifications. In West Bengal, the **Nandigram** assembly seat became open after Suvendu Adhikari relinquished it to contest the Lok Sabha election from the same constituency, a move that reshaped the state's political calculus. Tamil Nadu’s two assembly seats – **Aravakurichi** and **K. M. Thangamani’s former constituency** – are the focus of the regional party TVK, which hopes that senior leader Vijay’s outreach can boost its tally. Puducherry’s **Karaikal South** seat is up after the death of the incumbent MLA, while the second Bengal seat, **Kalyani**, was vacated following the resignation of its MLA amid internal party disputes. In Assam, the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat, traditionally a non‑BJP stronghold, is open after the death of the sitting MP; Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma cautioned that “we cannot speculate on the result now,” underscoring the uncertain electoral terrain.

Political parties across the spectrum have already begun mobilising cadres. The BJP, which holds the Nagaon seat at the national level, is fielding a high‑profile candidate and viewing the contest as a litmus test ahead of the 2029 general elections. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) are gearing up to defend Nandigram, while the Congress and Left Front are eyeing possible gains in West Bengal’s assembly seats. In Tamil Nadu, TVK hopes to capitalize on Vijay’s popularity to improve its standing, whereas the DMK and AIADMK are watching closely. Election officials have announced heightened security measures and voter‑awareness drives, given the spread of the polls across four states and the union territory, to ensure a free and fair process.