Nandigram and Rejinagar bypoll: Ballot without the battle

In the Indian state of West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured the backing of 207 MLAs in the 294-member Assembly. Two constituencies, Nandigram and Rejinagar, are undergoing by-elections, following the election of BJP candidates in other districts during the recent state polls. The main contenders are the BJP, Trinamool Congress, Congress, and the Left Front.

This election marks the first instance where Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress will campaign under their new symbol - a footballer, instead of their traditional flowers-and-grass emblem.

Nandigram, a rural constituency in Purba Medinipur district, is renowned for its historic role in the anti-land acquisition movement, which led to the downfall of the Left Front government in 2011. Suvendu Adhikari, the incumbent MLA, is contesting from Nandigram for the second time, aiming for a victory margin of approximately 9,665 votes. On the other hand, Hasirani Rath, mother of Adhikari's slain personal assistant, is representing the BJP. She recently won the seat by a 1,956-vote margin against Banerjee.

The BJP is leveraging Hasirani's emotional appeal - her son Chandranath Rath lost his life in post-poll violence during the BJP's first term. Meanwhile, the Congress is campaigning on the arrest of Milan Pradhan, a Congress leader who was arrested for his role in the 2007 Nandigram land movement. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, criticized the BJP for their actions, stating that the party has "no faith in fair elections."