Jail Before Ballot? AJUP Candidate Raise Question Over Voters Rights After Kabir Arrest

Voting began on Tuesday October 6, 2026 for by election to five Assembly constituencies across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, along with the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency in Assam. In West Bengal, polling is taking place in Nandigram and Rejinagar, with voting scheduled to continue until 6 p.m. The Rejinagar bypoll was marked by tension after Aam Janata Unnayan Party chief Humayun Kabir was detained and subsequently arrested by police while polling was underway. Kabir son, Golam Nabi Azad, is contesting the Rejinagar seat as the AJUP candidate. Azad alleged that voters were being prevented from exercising their franchise and raised concerns over the conduct of polling in the constituency. His allegation came after his father accused police of targeting his party workers and interfering with voters. These claims remain allegation and should be distinguished from independently verified findings about the conduct of the election. According to reports, Kabir had earlier cast his vote and subsequently accused police of taking voters to polling booths, snatching voter slips and identity documents, and interfering with the voting process. He also alleged that his supporters had been detained and that polling was being obstructed. The confrontation escalated when Kabir approached police personnel during polling and challenged their actions. Police subsequently detained him and took him to Rejinagar police station, report said he was arrested in connection with alleged interference with the polling process. The developments have added to the political tension surrounding the Rejinagar contest. The constituency is witnessing a multi cornered contest involving AJUP, the BJP, TMC factions, Congress and other candidates. At the same time, early turn out figures indicated that voting was continuing in the constituency. Rejinagar recorded 18.05% turnout during the first two hours of polling, according to figures reported by officials, while later figures showed turnout continuing to rise. The allegations by the AJUP candidate and his father have placed the conduct of polling under renewed scrutiny, while the reported police action against Kabir has become a prominent issue during the by election. The final assessment of any violation or obstruction would depend on findings by the Election Commission and other competent authorities.