Voting is underway in the West Bengal Assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar under heavy security, with peaceful polling and strong voter turnout reported. BJP is seen as having an advantage in Nandigram after the Trinamool candidate's withdrawal.
Mamata Banerjee's faction of the Trinamool Congress suffered another setback as Rejinagar candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury withdrew his nomination on Saturday, a day after its Nandigram candidate also pulled out. Chowdhury cited difficulties faced by party workers and consulted Banerjee.
Mamata Banerjee camp candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew her nomination for the Nandigram bypoll on Friday, a day before the deadline. Her withdrawal came hours after the Election Commission assigned the faction a new party name and symbol.