No dearth of drama but Opposition seems resigned to Bengal by-poll results

The Opposition also objected to the timing of a returning officer’s notice in Rejinagar. It alleged that a notice dated 1 October was displayed only at 1.00 pm on Sunday, 4 October, giving parties until 4.00 pm to submit details of counting agents. The criticism has also highlighted the Opposition’s own organisational lapses — details of counting agents are a routine electoral requirement and parties would ordinarily be expected to be prepared with them.

Nandigram, meanwhile, has seen its own share of controversy. On Monday, 5 October, the Election Commission of India (ECI) replaced Ajay Kumar Mishra as inspector-in-charge of Nandigram police station, appointing Debashis Sarkar in his place, a day before polling. 

The move came amid allegations surrounding the treatment of Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, who was arrested during the campaign in six cases dating back to 2007. The Calcutta High Court granted him interim bail to enable him to contest the bypoll, noting that the cases were nearly 19 years old and that he had not been arrested after filing his nomination. 

Pradhan alleged that plainclothes policemen had taken him from a hotel, blindfolded him and pressured him to withdraw from the contest. He also alleged that he feared being killed in a fake encounter. The allegations have not been established.

The West Bengal government challenged his interim bail in the Supreme Court. On Monday, however, the Supreme Court adjourned the matter after Justice Joymalya Bagchi recused himself, effectively allowing Pradhan to contest Tuesday’s election. 

West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee president Subhankar Sarkar criticised the state government’s decision to pursue the matter in the Supreme Court, saying taxpayers’ money was being spent on what he called a “witch hunt” against Pradhan.

Nandigram has also witnessed clashes during campaigning. CPI candidate Santigopal Giri alleged that BJP minority-cell functionary Abbas Beg stopped him during door-to-door campaigning in Daudpur, threw him to the ground and assaulted him. Beg has filed a counter-complaint, alleging that Giri and his supporters attacked him with bamboo sticks.

With both constituencies carrying considerable political symbolism, Tuesday’s polling will offer an early indication of how the BJP government’s first months in office are being received — and whether the Opposition can convert its campaign allegations and organisational mobilisation into votes.