BJP picks mother of Suvendu Adhikari's murdered PA for Nandigram bypoll

The BJP on Tuesday named Hasirani Rath as its candidate for the upcoming bye-election to Bengal's Nandigram assembly constituency. She is the mother of Chandranath Rath, a former personal assistant to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Chandranath was shot dead days after the BJP's historic win in the eastern state, toppling the 15-year rule of Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress.The Nandigram seat in Purba Medinipur district fell vacant after Adhikari, who won from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in the 2026 assembly elections, retained the latter. A seat in south Kolkata, Bhabanipur was the bastion of Mamata Banerjee.Meanwhile, for the Rejinagar seat, the BJP announced Sakharav Sarkar for the bypolls. He is the former president of the party’s Murshidabad district unit and currently serves on its state committee.In Rejinagar, the seat was vacated by Aam Janata Unnayan Party founder Humayun Kabir, who had also won the Nowda constituency. The BJP's announcement came a day after the rebel TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee announced its candidates for the two seats.The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction has fielded Sanchita Pradhan Dey from Nandigram and former MLA Rabiul Alam Chowdhury from Rejinagar. The rebel TMC camp has nominated Mohammad Eteshamul Haque and Safiuzamman Sheikh for the two constituencies, respectively. The Congress and Left Front have also announced their candidates for the bypolls.Polling in both constituencies will be held on October 6, while counting of votes will take place on October 9.- EndsPublished On: Sep 15, 2026 12:59 IST