Will withdraw candidate from Nandigram if Mamata decides to contest: Ritabrata Banerjee

Amid the dispute over the party symbol, the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress on Saturday (September 12, 2026) said it would withdraw its candidate from the upcoming Nandigram Assembly bypoll if Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee decides to contest the election from the seat.

The announcement came on the day the Election Commission met representatives of the two factions of the Trinamool Congress—one led by Ms. Banerjee and the other by Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee.

“We want Mamata Banerjee to come to the Assembly. It will be better if she comes from Nandigram,” Mr. Banerjee said. He said his faction had more or less finalised its candidate for the bypoll but would withdraw the nominee if the former Chief Minister chooses to contest, even as an Independent.

Of the Trinamool Congress’s 80 MLAs, more than 65 have backed Mr. Banerjee, while Ms Banerjee has the support of only a handful of legislators.

Also Read : West Bengal by-elections to test Trinamool rival groups’ claim over party symbol

Ms. Banerjee had lost the 2021 Assembly election from Nandigram to Suvendu Adhikari by 1,956 votes. In the 2026 Assembly election, Mr. Adhikari won from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur and subsequently gave up the Nandigram seat, necessitating the bypoll.

The by-election is also scheduled in Rejinagar following the decision of Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) leader Humayun Kabir to vacate the seat. Mr. Mabir, who had won from both Naoda and Rejinagar, decided to give up Rejinagar. His son Golam Nabi Azad is the AJUP candidate from Rejinagar. The CPI(M)-led Left Front has nominated Sayeed Asad Aliu from Rejinagar and Shanti Gopal Giri from Nandigram. The Congress has nominated Mohd Abdullahil Kafi from Rejinagar and Milan Pradhan from Nandigram.

The bypolls to Nandigram and Rejinagar are scheduled for October 6. The last date for filing nominations is September 16. Both the Trinamool factions are yet to field candidates. The bypolls are going to be a prestige fight for the BJP in West Bengal, where the party has the support of 207 MLAs in the 294-member Assembly.