Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Mamata Faction Names Candidates for Bengal Bypolls
West Bengal will hold special elections in two Assembly seats on October 6.
Mamata Banerjee’s TMC faction has chosen Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) for Nandigram and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury for Rejinagar.
Sanchita is described as a new face, while Rabiul is a former MLA.
The elections are needed because the previous representatives left their seats.
Other parties, including Congress, CPI(M) and CPI, have also chosen candidates.
TMC is currently divided into two groups.
Both groups say they should control the party’s name and election symbol.
The Election Commission must decide the issue while nominations are still being filed.
The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress faction named Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) for Nandigram and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury for Rejinagar.
The West Bengal by-elections are scheduled for October 6, with counting set for October 9.
The polls were triggered by Suvendu Adhikari’s resignation from Nandigram and Humayun Kabir’s resignation from Rejinagar.
The announcements came amid a dispute between rival TMC factions over the party’s name, organisational control, assets and election symbol.
Congress, CPI(M) and CPI have also announced candidates, while the rival TMC faction has not yet named nominees.
- Who
- Mamata Banerjee’s TMC faction, rival TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, Congress, CPI(M), and CPI are involved; named TMC candidates are Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury.
- What
- By-elections will be held for the Nandigram and Rejinagar West Bengal Assembly seats amid a dispute over control of the TMC name and election symbol.
- When
- Voting is scheduled for October 6 and counting for October 9; nominations close on September 16.
- Where
- Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district and Rejinagar in Murshidabad, West Bengal.
- Why
- The seats became vacant after Suvendu Adhikari and Humayun Kabir resigned, while the TMC split created competing claims over the party’s identity and symbol.
Mamata-led TMC faction
Ritabrata-led rival faction
Party legitimacy
Mamata-led TMC faction
The Mamata Banerjee-led camp says it is the legitimate Trinamool Congress and that its existing organisational committees remain valid.
Ritabrata-led rival faction
The Ritabrata Banerjee-led camp says it has the support of a majority of newly elected TMC MLAs and should be recognised as the real TMC.
Name and election symbol
Mamata-led TMC faction
The Mamata-led faction intends to contest using the TMC name and its existing election symbol.
Ritabrata-led rival faction
The rival faction also wants to use the TMC name and symbol and has said it could contest as independents if the dispute is unresolved.
Bypoll participation
Mamata-led TMC faction
The Mamata-led faction has announced candidates for both seats and is preparing to contest the October 6 bypolls.
Ritabrata-led rival faction
The rival faction had not announced candidates at the time of the reports, while awaiting the Election Commission’s decision.
- TMC candidates
- Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) for Nandigram; Rabiul Alam Chowdhury for Rejinagar
- Polling date
- October 6
- Counting date
- October 9
- Nomination deadline
- September 16
- Nandigram vacancy
- Created after Suvendu Adhikari resigned from the seat
- Rejinagar vacancy
- Created after Aam Janata Unnayan Party founder Humayun Kabir resigned
- Other candidates
- Congress named Milan Pradhan and Mohd. Abdullahil Kafi; CPI named Shanti Gopal Giri; CPI(M) named Advocate Sayeed Asad Ali
