Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Bengal Bypolls Spark Speculation Over Mamata Banerjee’s Contest
West Bengal will hold by-elections in two Assembly seats on October 6.
The seats are Rejinagar and Nandigram.
Some people are wondering whether Mamata Banerjee will run from one of them.
Her supporters believe being an MLA would help her lead her party inside the Assembly.
They say Nandigram may be a better choice, even though she lost there in 2021.
Others think Congress should contest Rejinagar.
A Trinamool faction says it should receive the party’s symbol, while Trinamool leaders say Mamata’s candidate will contest.
The BJP says it would welcome a contest against Banerjee.
Two West Bengal constituencies, Rejinagar and Nandigram, are scheduled for bypolls on October 6.
Speculation is growing over whether former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will contest from either seat.
Supporters say Banerjee’s presence in the Assembly could strengthen Trinamool Congress amid BJP growth and defections.
Nandigram is seen by some as the safer option, while others suggest Rejinagar should be left to Congress.
A Trinamool faction and the BJP both say they plan to contest, while the party symbol remains a concern.
- Who
- Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress, the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party and a rival Trinamool faction are involved in the speculation.
- What
- The issue is whether Banerjee will contest one of Bengal’s two upcoming Assembly by-elections and which parties will field candidates.
- When
- The by-elections are scheduled for October 6.
- Where
- The elections will be held in Rejinagar and Nandigram in West Bengal.
- Why
- The seats became vacant, while Banerjee’s possible return to the Assembly is being discussed amid BJP growth, defections and concerns over Trinamool Congress’s leadership and party symbol.
Supporters of Banerjee Contesting
Rivals and Alternative Strategies
Whether Banerjee should contest
Supporters of Banerjee Contesting
Supporters argue that Banerjee should lead the Trinamool Congress from the front, return to the Assembly and serve as Leader of the Opposition.
Rivals and Alternative Strategies
The article records no decision from Banerjee, while the BJP says it would welcome her contesting both seats and try to defeat her again.
Which seat to contest
Supporters of Banerjee Contesting
Some see Nandigram as the safer option based on the figures cited, while others say Rejinagar’s 65% Muslim population could benefit Banerjee.
Rivals and Alternative Strategies
Some party insiders believe Rejinagar should be left to the Congress, and propose that state Congress chief Shubhankar Sarkar contest Nandigram.
Alliance and party symbol
Supporters of Banerjee Contesting
Trinamool insiders suggest an alliance with Congress could help the party in both constituencies, while Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh says the party’s candidate will contest.
Rivals and Alternative Strategies
A rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee claims it is the real Trinamool and says its candidate will receive the party symbol, creating uncertainty over the symbol.
- Bypoll date
- October 6
- West Bengal seats
- Rejinagar and Nandigram
- Nandigram 2021 result
- Suvendu Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee by 1,956 votes
- Latest Nandigram margin cited
- The Trinamool Congress candidate lost by 9,665 votes
- Rejinagar location
- Murshidabad district, within the Baharampur Lok Sabha constituency
- Rejinagar demographics
- The article says the constituency has a 65% Muslim population
- Symbol dispute
- A rival Trinamool faction claims it is the real party and should receive the party symbol