Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Rejinagar Candidate Reverses Withdrawal Amid West Bengal Bypoll Turmoil
Rabiul Alam Chowdhury is Mamata Banerjee’s candidate in the Rejinagar election.
He first said he would quit because party workers were allegedly facing pressure and campaigning was difficult.
He also worried that voters would not quickly recognise the faction’s new football-player symbol.
About two hours later, he changed his mind after Mamata told him to stay in the race.
Police officers also assured him that he and his workers would receive security.
In another seat, Nandigram candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew after meeting Suvendu Adhikari.
Mamata’s faction then supported Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, who was later arrested in an old case.
The Election Commission has given the rival TMC factions different names and symbols for the bypolls.
Voting in Rejinagar and Nandigram is scheduled for October 6, with counting on October 9.
Rabiul Alam Chowdhury initially announced he would withdraw from the Rejinagar Assembly bypoll, citing pressure on workers and campaign difficulties.
Chowdhury reversed the decision within roughly two hours after Mamata Banerjee instructed him to contest and police assured security.
He said workers were being harassed, many had left the area for work, and voters might struggle to recognise the new football-player symbol.
Nandigram candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew after meeting Suvendu Adhikari, prompting Mamata’s faction to support Congress nominee Milan Pradhan.
Milan Pradhan was later arrested in an old case, while the Election Commission assigned separate names and symbols to the rival TMC factions.
- Who
- Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, Mamata Banerjee, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, Milan Pradhan, Suvendu Adhikari, the rival TMC factions, Congress, BJP and the Election Commission are involved.
- What
- Chowdhury reversed his announced withdrawal and will contest the Rejinagar bypoll; in Nandigram, the Mamata faction’s candidate withdrew and the faction backed a Congress nominee.
- When
- Chowdhury announced and reversed his decision on Saturday; Dey withdrew on Friday. Polling is scheduled for October 6 and counting for October 9.
- Where
- The bypolls are being held in Rejinagar and Nandigram in West Bengal. Chowdhury also met officers at Beldanga police station.
- Why
- Chowdhury initially cited alleged harassment and arrests of party workers, workers leaving the area for employment, and difficulty campaigning with the new symbol. He later said Mamata directed him to contest and police assured security.
Mamata Faction and Allies
BJP and Rival Political Groups
Pressure on campaign workers
Mamata Faction and Allies
Chowdhury alleged that party workers were being harassed, arrested in false cases and pressured to leave the campaign; he later said police assured them of security.
BJP and Rival Political Groups
The reports do not provide a response from the administration to the allegations. BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar questioned why the faction nominated someone who initially did not want to contest.
Milan Pradhan’s arrest
Mamata Faction and Allies
Mamata Banerjee’s faction and Congress questioned the timing of Pradhan’s arrest after the support announcement and accused the BJP government of acting authoritarianly to influence the bypoll.
BJP and Rival Political Groups
The BJP said the police action followed the law. The reports link the arrest to old cases connected with the 2007 Nandigram movement.
Party name and symbol dispute
Mamata Faction and Allies
Mamata’s faction said the absence of the original TMC name and symbol made campaigning difficult and has challenged the temporary freeze in the Supreme Court.
BJP and Rival Political Groups
The Election Commission barred both factions from using the original party name and flowers-and-grass symbol and assigned them separate interim names and symbols.
- Rejinagar candidate
- Rabiul Alam Chowdhury initially announced a withdrawal but later confirmed he would contest.
- Initial concerns
- Chowdhury cited alleged harassment of workers, workers leaving the area for work, and difficulty familiarising voters with the new symbol.
- Reversal
- He said Mamata Banerjee instructed him not to quit and that police assured security for him and party workers.
- Nandigram withdrawal
- Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew her nomination after meeting Suvendu Adhikari; the reasons were not immediately clear.
- Congress support
- Mamata’s faction backed Congress candidate Milan Pradhan to strengthen the INDIA bloc.
- Milan Pradhan arrest
- Pradhan was arrested in connection with an old case linked to the 2007 Nandigram land agitation; another report described it as a 2007 murder case.
- Interim identities
- Mamata’s faction was assigned Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the football-player symbol; the rival faction received Democratic Trinamool Congress and the envelope symbol.
- Polling schedule
- Voting is scheduled for October 6, with counting on October 9.
Sources
Mamata Banerjee's Pick For Rejinagar Bypoll Withdraws Candidature, Day After Nandigram Blow
Bengal: Mamata’s Rejinagar bypoll candidate announces withdrawal from contest, retracts later
Fresh twist in West Bengal bypolls: Mamata Banerjee's party candidate from Rejinagar withdraws, takes U-turn later
After Nandigram, Banerjee’s Rejinagar bye-poll candidate announces withdrawal, then makes U-turn
