Kolkata, October 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday ordered the immediate replacement of the inspector-in-charge (IC) of Nandigram Police Station in West Bengal’s East Midnapore district, a day before polling for the high-stakes Assembly bypoll.
Ajay Kumar Mishra, who was serving as the IC of Nandigram Police Station, has been replaced by Debasish Sarkar, the IC of the traffic control room in East Midnapore district.
In a statement issued on Monday afternoon, the ECI directed that the transfer be implemented immediately and that a compliance report be submitted by Monday evening. The Commission did not disclose the reason for the sudden change.
The timing of Mishra’s replacement, just a day before polling, has drawn attention as Nandigram goes to the polls on Tuesday along with Rejinagar in Murshidabad district. Counting of votes for both constituencies is scheduled for October 9.
Extensive security arrangements have been made for the bypolls, with 71 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) deployed across the two constituencies. Of these, 37 companies will be deployed in Nandigram and 34 in Rejinagar.
A total of 15,119 state police personnel will also be deployed across the two constituencies, according to election authorities. Nearly 24 per cent of polling booths in the two constituencies have been identified as sensitive, including 323 in Nandigram and 315 in Rejinagar.
The Nandigram bypoll was necessitated after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who had won both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in this year’s Assembly elections, decided to retain Bhabanipur and vacated the Nandigram seat.
The BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath, mother of slain Adhikari aide Chandranath Rath, as its Nandigram candidate. Chandranath Rath was killed in Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district on May 6.
The Congress has fielded Milan Pradhan, who returned to campaigning after securing interim bail from the Calcutta High Court in connection with cases dating back to the 2007 Nandigram agitation.
In Rejinagar, the bypoll was necessitated after All India United Progressive Front (AJUP) leader Humayun Kabir, who had won both Rejinagar and Naoda, chose to retain Naoda.
FOLLOW NOW
