Mamata faction quits Rejinagar bypoll after Nandigram exit, first time since 1998
Synopsis
For the first time since 1998, West Bengal is heading into a bypoll without a Mamata Banerjee-led party in contention. The double withdrawal from Nandigram and Rejinagar exposes the depth of the factional split within the TMC — compounded by an unfamiliar election symbol that ground-level workers reportedly refused to campaign under.
Key Takeaways
Rabiul Alam Chowdhury , the Mamata faction's Rejinagar bypoll candidate, withdrew his nomination on 19 September 2026 .
A day earlier, the faction's Nandigram candidate Sanchita Dey Pradhan also pulled out after meeting Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari .
The twin exits mark the first time since 1998 that a West Bengal election will be held without a Banerjee-founded party in the fray.
The ECI allotted the Mamata faction the name 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' and symbol 'Football Player' ; the rival Ritabrata Banerjee faction received 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' and 'Envelope' .
Chowdhury cited worker reluctance over the new symbol and alleged administrative pressure and arrests of activists as reasons for stepping back.
Polling in Nandigram and Rejinagar is set for 6 October , with counting on 9 October .
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the All India Trinamool Congress suffered a fresh setback on Saturday, 19 September 2026, as its Rejinagar Assembly bypoll candidate, Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, withdrew his nomination from the contest in West Bengal's Murshidabad district. The withdrawal follows a near-identical move a day earlier in Nandigram, marking the first time since 1998 that a West Bengal election will be held without a party founded and led by Banerjee in the fray.
The Nandigram Precedent
The Rejinagar retreat came 24 hours after Sanchita Dey Pradhan, the Mamata faction's Nandigram bypoll candidate, withdrew following a meeting with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The faction has since declared its support for the Congress candidate in Nandigram. Banerjee herself had foreshadowed the Rejinagar decision on Friday, telling reporters: 'At Nandigram, we have decided to support the Congress candidate. As regards Rejinagar, we will take a decision later.'
Why Chowdhury Stepped Back
Confirming the withdrawal, Rabiul Alam Chowdhury cited multiple reasons: party workers were reportedly reluctant to campaign under the new election symbol — 'Football Player' — allotted to the faction by the Election Commission of India (ECI). He also alleged administrative pressure on activists and claimed several workers had been arrested, making a credible campaign difficult. He said the decision was taken after direct consultations with Mamata Banerjee.
The Symbol and Name Dispute
The ECI on Friday allotted the name 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' and the symbol 'Football Player' to the Banerjee-led faction. The rival faction, headed by Ritabrata Banerjee, was granted the name 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' and the symbol 'Envelope'. The original party name 'All India Trinamool Congress' and its traditional 'Flowers and Grass' symbol remain frozen by the poll panel — a blow to both factions' ability to mobilise voters on brand recognition alone. Notably, unfamiliar symbols have historically suppressed vote shares for parties in transition during by-elections.
The Rejinagar Contest and What Is at Stake
The Rejinagar bypoll was necessitated after AJUP leader Humayun Kabir, elected from both Rejinagar and Naoda in earlier Assembly elections, chose to retain the Naoda seat. His son, Golam Nabi Azad, is the AJUP candidate in the bypoll. Polling in both Nandigram and Rejinagar is scheduled for 6 October, with counting on 9 October.
A Historic Absence
The twin withdrawals mean West Bengal will go to a bypoll without any Banerjee-founded party contesting — a scenario unseen since 1998. This comes amid a deepening factional war within the TMC, symbol-freeze complications, and what critics describe as a loss of organisational coherence on the ground. Whether the Mamata faction's decision to back Congress in Nandigram signals a broader realignment or a tactical pause ahead of larger polls remains to be seen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Mamata faction withdraw from the Rejinagar bypoll?
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction's candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury withdrew from the Rejinagar Assembly bypoll on 19 September 2026, citing worker reluctance to campaign under the new 'Football Player' symbol allotted by the ECI, alleged administrative pressure, and arrests of party activists. The decision was taken after consultations with Banerjee herself.
What happened in Nandigram a day before the Rejinagar withdrawal?
The faction's Nandigram bypoll candidate Sanchita Dey Pradhan withdrew her nomination on Friday following a meeting with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The Mamata faction subsequently declared support for the Congress candidate in that seat.
What is the significance of the 1998 benchmark?
The twin withdrawals from Nandigram and Rejinagar mean West Bengal is holding a bypoll without any party founded or led by Mamata Banerjee contesting for the first time since 1998. It underscores the severity of the current factional split and the symbol-freeze impact.
What names and symbols did the ECI allot to the two TMC factions?
The Election Commission of India gave the Mamata Banerjee-led faction the name 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' and the 'Football Player' symbol. The rival faction headed by Ritabrata Banerjee was allotted the name 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' and the 'Envelope' symbol. The original 'All India Trinamool Congress' name and 'Flowers and Grass' symbol remain frozen.
When are the Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls scheduled?
Polling in both Nandigram and Rejinagar is scheduled for 6 October 2026, with counting of votes on 9 October 2026.
