The question of whether Trinamool Congress founder Mamata Banerjee will contest the upcoming West Bengal by-elections — and which of the two rival factions holds the right to the party's name and symbol — has emerged as the defining political subplot ahead of the 6 October repoll for two Assembly seats.

Election Commission Weighs Two Rival Claims

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday granted time to both factions — one led by Mamata Banerjee, informally called the 'Kalighat Trinamool' after her home address, and the other led by former Left leader Ritabrata Banerjee, now the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly — to present their respective cases for recognition as the original party and for rights to its poll symbol. The ECI's decision is being closely watched as the last date for filing nominations for the by-elections is Wednesday, 17 September — barely four days away.

The two seats in question are Rejinagar and Nandigram, both vacated when their respective winners resigned. Rejinagar fell vacant after Humayun Kabir — the controversial legislator who built a Babri Mosque replica in Murshidabad district and was subsequently suspended from the Trinamool Congress — resigned to retain his Naoda seat. Nandigram was vacated by current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who moved to Bhabanipur, where he defeated his once-mentor Mamata Banerjee.

The Nandigram Echo and Mamata's Past

The Nandigram seat carries particular political weight for Mamata Banerjee. She lost the seat to Suvendu Adhikari in the 2021 Assembly elections and was compelled to contest a by-election from Bhabanipur to qualify as Chief Minister for her third successive term. Her position now is an inversion of that episode — she is no longer the Chief Minister, and any return to the Assembly would again require a bypoll win.

Notably, Ritabrata Banerjee himself acknowledged this dynamic, quipping that a victory for Mamata would mean she could enter the state legislature only through repolls — an oblique reference to her two consecutive bypoll-dependent entries.

Humayun Kabir's Overture and the Rejinagar Factor

Humayun Kabir, who launched the Aam Janata Unnayan Party after his suspension from the Trinamool Congress, has publicly extended an 'invitation' to Mamata Banerjee to contest from Rejinagar, asserting he can ensure her victory there. Kabir had laid the foundation stone for the Babri Mosque replica in December last year, roughly four months before the Assembly elections, triggering his ouster from the party.

Neither Mamata Banerjee nor her camp has issued a conclusive statement on whether she will contest either seat.

BJP's Strategic Position in Nandigram

Political analysts note that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to hold a structural advantage in Nandigram if the Ritabrata faction does not field a candidate there. The Ritabrata faction's absence could consolidate anti-Mamata votes behind the BJP, while its presence would split that bloc, offering voters an alternative channel to register dissent against the previous Trinamool regime.

This comes amid a difficult phase for the Mamata camp. The faction is reportedly dealing with the fallout of this year's election loss, the defection of several leaders, Members of Parliament, and legislators, and ongoing legal proceedings against key figures — including her nephew and party General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

What Happens Next

With nominations closing Wednesday and polling set for 6 October, the ECI's ruling on party recognition, combined with Mamata Banerjee's decision on contesting, will likely reshape the electoral calculus for both seats within days. The bypolls are being read as an early barometer of the Trinamool brand's residual strength in the post-election political landscape of West Bengal.