Two Withdrawals, One U-Turn: TMC Faces Turmoil Ahead of Bengal Bypolls

Bengal Bypolls: Back-to-Back Candidate Exits and a Dramatic U-Turn

Kolkata: The run-up to the West Bengal Assembly bypolls has seen a series of rapid developments involving the Trinamool Congress faction led by Mamata Banerjee, with candidate withdrawals in two constituencies followed by a last-minute reversal in Rejinagar.

The bypolls to Nandigram and Rejinagar are scheduled for October 6, 2026, with counting scheduled for October 9. The latest developments have also unfolded against the backdrop of an ongoing dispute between rival TMC factions over the party's name and election symbol.

Nandigram Candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey Withdraws

The first major development came on Friday when Sanchita Pradhan Dey, the Mamata Banerjee-led faction's candidate in Nandigram, withdrew her nomination.

Pradhan Dey met West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in Kolkata before withdrawing from the contest. Following her exit, Mamata Banerjee announced that her faction would support Congress candidate Milan Pradhan in Nandigram.

Milan Pradhan was subsequently arrested in connection with four pending non-bailable warrants relating to cases registered during the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram. Police said the cases include allegations of murder, attempt to murder, abduction with intent to murder and other offences. Pradhan's supporters and Congress leaders have questioned the timing of the arrest, while police have said the warrants were longstanding. The allegations remain subject to the legal process.

Rejinagar Candidate Announces Withdrawal — Then Reverses It

The political uncertainty continued on Saturday with Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, the Mamata faction's candidate for Rejinagar, initially announcing that he would withdraw from the election.

Speaking to reporters in Murshidabad in the morning, Chowdhury cited difficulties surrounding the new election symbol and alleged pressure on party workers. He said the change in symbol could make it harder for voters to identify his candidacy.

However, within roughly two hours, Chowdhury reversed his decision.

After speaking with Mamata Banerjee, he said he would remain in the contest and begin campaigning. Reports said Banerjee assured him of support, while Chowdhury indicated that he would contest using the new football-player symbol allotted to the Mamata-led faction.

Why Did the TMC Symbol Change?

The candidate drama comes after the Election Commission of India (ECI) issued an interim arrangement for the two rival TMC factions ahead of the bypolls.

The Mamata Banerjee-led faction was allotted the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the football-player symbol. The rival faction led by Arup Roy was allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the envelope symbol. The ECI had earlier barred both groups from using the existing Trinamool Congress name and its reserved symbol for the upcoming bypolls amid the dispute.

Mamata Banerjee has challenged the ECI's decision in the Supreme Court, according to reports.

Rabiul Says He Will Fight the Rejinagar Election

Following his U-turn, Chowdhury said he would continue with the election campaign.

The veteran politician has previously represented Rejinagar as a Congress MLA and later as a TMC MLA. He contested the constituency in the 2013 and 2016 Assembly elections as a Congress candidate and won it for TMC in 2021, according to reports. In the 2026 Assembly election, former TMC MLA Humayun Kabir, founder of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party, won Rejinagar and subsequently vacated the seat, leading to the bypoll.

What Happened in the Two Constituencies?

The sequence of events has left the Mamata-led faction with different situations in the two bypoll constituencies.

In Nandigram, the faction's original candidate withdrew, after which the party announced support for Congress candidate Milan Pradhan. His subsequent arrest has become a separate political and legal issue.

In Rejinagar, Chowdhury initially announced his withdrawal but later returned to the contest after speaking with Mamata Banerjee.

The developments occurred just before the September 19 deadline for withdrawal of nominations, adding urgency to the decisions of candidates and parties.

A Crucial Test Amid the TMC Factional Dispute

The October 6 bypolls are taking place while the two TMC factions continue their dispute over the party's identity and election symbol. The ECI's interim arrangement means voters in Nandigram and Rejinagar will see different party names and symbols associated with the rival groups on the ballot.

With Rabiul Alam Chowdhury now back in the Rejinagar contest and the Nandigram race reshaped by Sanchita Pradhan Dey's withdrawal and Milan Pradhan's subsequent arrest, the political landscape in both constituencies has changed significantly in the days leading up to polling.