Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Mamata Backs Congress After Nandigram Candidate Withdraws
Mamata Banerjee’s group had chosen Sanchita Pradhan Dey to contest the Nandigram election.
Dey later withdrew after reportedly meeting Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
Because the nomination deadline had passed, Banerjee said her group would not choose a replacement.
Instead, it will support Congress candidate Milan Pradhan.
Banerjee said this would help opposition parties work together against the BJP.
The Election Commission also stopped both rival Trinamool groups from using the old party name and Flowers and Grass symbol for these bypolls.
Banerjee’s group received a new name and the Football Player symbol.
The elections are scheduled for October 6, with results counted on October 9.
Mamata Banerjee’s faction will support Congress candidate Milan Pradhan in the Nandigram Assembly bypoll after Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew her nomination.
Banerjee said the decision was taken in the national interest and to strengthen the INDIA alliance against the BJP.
Dey reportedly met West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Nabanna before withdrawing; reports did not establish the precise reason.
The Election Commission froze the original Trinamool Congress name and Flowers and Grass symbol, assigning new names and symbols to both rival factions.
Nandigram and Rejinagar are scheduled to vote on October 6, with counting on October 9; reports differed on the extent of Congress support in Assam’s Nagaon seat.
- Who
- Mamata Banerjee’s faction, Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, withdrawn candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey, Suvendu Adhikari, the Election Commission of India and the BJP.
- What
- Banerjee’s faction withdrew from the Nandigram contest and announced support for the Congress candidate after its nominee withdrew.
- When
- The announcement was made on Friday, identified in one report as September 18, 2026; polling is scheduled for October 6 and counting for October 9.
- Where
- Nandigram, West Bengal; Dey reportedly met Adhikari at Nabanna before withdrawing.
- Why
- Banerjee said the decision was made in the greater national interest and to strengthen the INDIA alliance against the BJP.
Banerjee Faction and Allies
Critics and Election Commission Position
Election Commission decision
Banerjee Faction and Allies
Banerjee called freezing the Trinamool name and Flowers and Grass symbol unconstitutional, illegal, undemocratic, arbitrary and politically motivated.
Critics and Election Commission Position
The Election Commission issued an interim arrangement assigning separate names and symbols to rival factions while their dispute over the party identity continued.
Nandigram strategy
Banerjee Faction and Allies
Banerjee said supporting Congress would strengthen the INDIA alliance and help opposition parties fight the BJP together.
Critics and Election Commission Position
Congress Bengal leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury criticized the withdrawal and urged anti-BJP voters to support Congress directly rather than Banerjee’s faction.
Candidate withdrawal
Banerjee Faction and Allies
Reports linked Sanchita Pradhan Dey’s withdrawal to her meeting with Suvendu Adhikari at Nabanna, leaving Banerjee’s faction without time to nominate a replacement.
Critics and Election Commission Position
The reports do not establish the precise reason for Dey’s withdrawal; they mainly confirm that she met Adhikari before withdrawing.
- Nandigram Congress candidate
- Milan Pradhan
- Withdrawn candidate
- Sanchita Pradhan Dey, also referred to as Sanchita Pradhan
- Banerjee faction’s temporary identity
- Mamata All India Trinamool Congress; Football Player symbol
- Rival faction’s reported identity
- Democratic Trinamool Congress; Envelope symbol
- Frozen identity
- All India Trinamool Congress name and Flowers and Grass symbol
- Polling date
- October 6
- Counting date
- October 9
- Nagaon reports
- One report said Banerjee would support Congress in Assam’s Nagaon seat, while another said her faction would not contest there; the reports did not consistently specify a separate endorsement.
Sources
Nandigram Candidate Abandons Her, Mamata Banerjee Pulls A Congress Surprise
Nandigram Bypoll: Mamata Banerjee To Back Congress After Her Candidate Withdraws
Bengal bypoll: Mamata to back Congress after Nandigram candidate withdraws nomination
Mamata Banerjee backs Congress in Nandigram bypoll, her candidate opts out
Nandigram Bypoll: Mamata Backs Congress Candidate After Faction’s Pick Withdraws Following Meeting With CM Adhikari
Didi to back Cong after TMC candidate pulls out
Mamata to back Congress in Nandigram after candidate pulls out
'Ready to fight it out': Mamata backs Congress candidate in Nandigram after TMC nominee withdraws
Mamata Banerjee backs ‘natural ally’ Congress in Nandigram, Nagaon after losing Trinamool name and symbol
Mamata backs Cong in Nandigram bypoll after candidate withdraws