Mamata won't contest in Nandigram as TMC names candidates for upcoming bypolls
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress on Sunday announced its candidates for the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly by-elections, confirming that the former West Bengal chief minister would not contest from Nandigram despite widespread speculation over her possible return to the Assembly.
The party named Sanchita Pradhan Dey as its candidate from Nandigram and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury from Rejinagar. Voting for both seats will be held on October 6, while the results will be declared on October 9.
The announcement came a day after the rival Ritabrata Banerjee-led Trinamool faction offered to withdraw its Nandigram candidate if Mamata entered the contest, even as an Independent.
Ritabrata said his faction had almost finalised its candidate but would step aside for Mamata Banerjee because several leaders in his camp wanted her back in the Assembly.
He, however, coupled the offer with a jibe at the former chief minister, accusing her of repeatedly relying on by-elections to enter the House.
Mamata did not contest the 2011 Assembly election and later entered the House by winning the Bhabanipore bypoll. She won directly from Bhabanipore in 2016 but lost Nandigram to Suvendu Adhikari in 2021, before returning to the Assembly through another Bhabanipore by-election.
In the 2026 Assembly election, Mamata Banerjee again lost from Bhabanipore, this time to Adhikari. The BJP leader won both Bhabanipore and Nandigram but retained Bhabanipore, leaving Nandigram vacant.
The Rejinagar bypoll was necessitated after AJUP leader Humayun Kabir, who won from both Rejinagar and Naoda, vacated the former seat.
The Mamata-led faction also named Abdul Salam as its candidate for the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election in Assam. The seat fell vacant after Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned following his election to the Assam Assembly from Dispur.
The candidate announcement comes amid a dispute between the two actions over the Trinamool Congress name and its election symbol. The Election Commission is examining the rival claims.- EndsPublished By: Aprameya RaoPublished On: Sep 13, 2026 20:53 IST
