Ruling parties sweep all six seats in by-election, Starlink row, Nobel Prize 2026, and more: The week in 5 charts
Ruling parties secured victories in all six by-election seats across three Indian states and one Union Territory. The report also notes Elon Musk's recent accusations regarding the blockage of Starlink in India.
Why it matters
The election results reflect the current political landscape in India, while the Starlink controversy highlights ongoing tensions between global tech giants and local regulatory environments.
Ruling parties in three States and a Union Territory won all six seats in the by-elections for which results were declared on Friday (October 9, 2026). The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won both Assembly seats in West Bengal and wrested the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat in Assam from the Congress. In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) won both seats it contested, while the All India NR Congress (AINRC) retained the Thattanchavady Assembly seat in Puducherry.
In Tamil Nadu, TVK candidates K. Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama won the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies, respectively. The victories marked the party’s first electoral test since its surprise victory in the Assembly elections in May, taking its strength in the 234-member House to 109. With five seats vacant, the effective majority mark stands at 115. The TVK’s ally, the Congress, has five seats.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in