West Bengal Sept 28 [UDN}:The political developments surrounding former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) took another turn on Saturday, September 19, with the party’s candidate for the Rejinagar Assembly by-election, Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, announcing his withdrawal from the electoral contest. The development came a day after the Mamata-backed candidate in Nandigram, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, also withdrew her nomination.
Chowdhury announced his decision to withdraw his nomination from the Rejinagar bypoll, citing pressure on party workers and difficulties in campaigning. Reports said he also referred to the challenges arising from the new party name and election symbol allotted to Mamata Banerjee’s faction, leaving little time for voters to become familiar with them.
The development followed the Election Commission’s decision to bar the two rival TMC factions from using the original party name and the traditional election symbol. Mamata Banerjee’s faction was allotted the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” along with a new symbol, while the rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee was allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress.”
The Rejinagar development came just one day after Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew her nomination from Nandigram. She had met West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at the state secretariat before withdrawing her candidature. Following her withdrawal, Mamata Banerjee announced support for the Congress candidate in the Nandigram bypoll.
The Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly by-elections are scheduled to be held on October 6, 2026, with counting scheduled for October 9.
Update: There has since been a further development in Rejinagar. Later reports on Saturday said Rabiul Alam Chowdhury reversed his decision and said he would contest the bypoll, following intervention from Mamata Banerjee. Therefore, the earlier claim that he had definitively withdrawn should be treated as an interim development rather than the final position.