Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, the Mamata Banerjee-led faction’s candidate for the Rejinagar Assembly bypoll, briefly withdrew his candidature on Saturday. The move added another twist to the faction’s preparations for the October 6 bypoll in West Bengal. The faction named Chowdhury as its Rejinagar candidate on September 13. It also named Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) for Nandigram. The party announced both candidates under the guidance of its chairperson, Mamata Banerjee. Chowdhury announced his withdrawal on Saturday morning. However, he later said he would still reach out to voters with a new election symbol. “I am not doing anything beyond the instructions of Mamata Banerjee," he said. “Earlier, I had thought that we would decide on a new symbol and other matters. Now, I will go to the people with a new symbol," he added. The announcement came a day after Pradhan withdrew her nomination from Nandigram. Pradhan withdrew from the race on Friday afternoon. She had met West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Nabanna, the state secretariat, before withdrawing her nomination. She later submitted her withdrawal at the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s office in Haldia. Mamata then announced that her faction would not contest Nandigram. Instead, it would support Congress candidate Milan Pradhan.

Rabiul Alam Chowdhury Named Rejinagar Candidate

The Mamata Banerjee-led faction announced Chowdhury as its Rejinagar candidate on September 13. The faction also named Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) for Nandigram on the same day. Both constituencies will vote on October 6. Officials will count the votes on October 9. In Rejinagar, Congress has fielded Mohd. Abdullahil Kafi. The CPI(M) has nominated advocate Sayeed Asad Ali. The CPI has fielded Shanti Gopal Giri from Nandigram. The Rejinagar seat fell vacant after Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder Humayun Kabir resigned. Kabir had also won the Nowda seat, according to news agency ANI. The Nandigram bypoll became necessary after Suvendu Adhikari vacated the seat. He chose to retain Bhabanipur after defeating Mamata Banerjee there in the Assembly election earlier this year.

Sanchita Pradhan Withdraws From Nandigram Race

Pradhan’s withdrawal triggered another political development. Mamata later announced support for the Congress candidate in Nandigram. Speaking at a press conference at her Kalighat residence, Mamata said, “We will not contest in Nandigram. We will support our sister party, Congress. This will strengthen the INDIA bloc." Mamata also said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called her on Thursday night. She said that conversation led her to support Milan Pradhan. “We are all together; we will fight together. We will support all normal alliances. We will support our sister parties," Mamata said. Mamata said her faction would take a decision on Rejinagar later.

Election Commission Gives TMC Factions New Names and Symbols

The latest developments come amid a dispute between two rival TMC factions. The Election Commission of India initially froze the name “All India Trinamool Congress" and the “Flowers & Grass" symbol. The Commission later gave the two factions separate names and symbols. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction received the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the symbol “Football Players”. The rival faction, led by expelled party legislator Ritabrata Banerjee, received the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the symbol “Envelope”. The separate identities have added another layer to the contest ahead of the October 6 Assembly bypolls.