Upcoming Bye-Elections: What You Need to Know About the October Polls

The Election Commission of India has announced bye-elections for five Assembly constituencies and one Parliamentary seat on October 6, with results due on October 9. Key details include the reasons for vacancies, the use of EVMs and VVPATs, and the obligations of candidates regarding criminal records. This article provides an overview of the election schedule, nomination deadlines, and the Model Code of Conduct that will be enforced. Stay informed about the electoral process and what to expect in the upcoming polls.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 7, 2026, 19:38 IST

Bye-Elections Scheduled for October

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that bye-elections for five Assembly constituencies across four states, along with one Parliamentary seat in Assam, are set for October 6, with results to be revealed on October 9.

The Nagaon Parliamentary seat in Assam became vacant following the resignation of Pradyut Bordoloi, as stated by the ECI.

In West Bengal, bye-elections will occur in the Nandigram Assembly seat due to the resignation of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, and in Rejinagar, which was vacated after Humayun Kabir, the Chief of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party, stepped down.

Tamil Nadu will see bye-elections in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies, while Puducherry's Thattanchavady constituency will also hold elections.

The ECI has scheduled the gazette notification for these bye-elections to be released on September 9.

Candidates will have until September 16 to file their nominations, with the scrutiny of these nominations taking place on September 17.

The deadline for withdrawing candidatures is set for September 19, according to the ECI's announcement.

The Commission confirmed that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) will be utilized at all polling stations during the bye-elections.

Sufficient EVMs and VVPATs have been arranged, and measures are in place to ensure a smooth electoral process with these technologies, as per the statement.

The ECI also noted that the updating of electoral rolls in the four states will continue until the last date for filing nominations, considering applications received up to ten days prior to this deadline.

The Model Code of Conduct will be effective immediately in the districts where any part of the Assembly constituency is located.

Candidates with criminal records must disclose this information in newspapers and on television three times during their campaign period.

Political parties that nominate candidates with criminal backgrounds are also obligated to publish this information on their websites and through media outlets on three occasions, as stated by the ECI.