Kolkata: BJP candidates Hasirani Rath and Sakharav Sarkar were leading in Nandigram and Rejinagar, respectively, as counting of postal ballots for the West Bengal Assembly bypolls began on Friday, according to television reports.

The Election Commission (EC) had not released any official figures at the time of reporting.

Counting began at 8 am under tight security at the counting centres, where entry was restricted to personnel with authorisation from the EC. The trends are expected to become clearer as postal ballot counting progresses and votes recorded in electronic voting machines (EVMs) are taken up.

The bypolls in the two constituencies were held on Tuesday. The results are being closely watched as an early electoral test of West Bengal’s political landscape following the BJP’s victory in the Assembly elections earlier this year.

Nandigram: Suvendu Adhikari’s seat in focus

Nandigram, a politically significant constituency in Purba Medinipur district, fell vacant after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who won from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur, retained the latter seat.

Adhikari defeated former chief minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur.

The BJP fielded Hasirani Rath, the mother of Adhikari’s slain personal assistant Chandranath Rath, in Nandigram. The party has said it is aiming for a record victory in the constituency.

The contest is being watched closely given Nandigram’s political significance and its association with the state’s leading political figures.

Rejinagar bypoll follows Humayun Kabir’s decision

The Rejinagar seat fell vacant after Aam Janata Unnayan Party founder Humayun Kabir, who won from both Rejinagar and Nowda, retained the latter constituency.

Kabir’s party fielded his son, Gulam Nabi Azad, in the Rejinagar bypoll.

Meanwhile, the campaign in Nandigram was marked by controversy over the arrest and subsequent bail of Congress candidate Milan Pradhan.

The final outcome will emerge as counting progresses and the Election Commission releases official figures.