Mamata Banerjee’s Candidates Exit Bypoll Race, Rabiu Alam Chowdhury Withdraws In Rejinagar

Kolkata: Ahead of the upcoming assembly by-elections in West Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress faction has suffered another setback. After Nandigram, now the party's candidate from Rejinagar seat, Rabiu Alam Chowdhury, has also decided to withdraw from the election field. He has withdrawn his nomination. According to Rabiu, there is not enough time left to reach the new election symbol to the voters and hence there are problems regarding it even among the workers.

Why did Rabiu retreat in Rejinagar also?

Mamata faction had made former MLA Rabiu Alam Chowdhury its candidate from Rejinagar. But amid the ongoing controversy over the name and election symbol of Trinamool Congress, the Election Commission allotted separate names and symbols to both factions. After this Rabiu decided to withdraw from the election. He said that it would be difficult to deliver the new election symbol to the voters in a short time and there was not enough time for election preparations.

What happened in Nandigram?

A day before this, Mamata faction's candidate from Nandigram, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, had also withdrawn her nomination. According to reports, she had met West Bengal Chief Minister Subhendu Adhikari before withdrawing her nomination. After this, Mamata Banerjee announced her support to Congress candidate Milan Pradhan in Nandigram. Hours after this decision, Milan Pradhan was arrested by the police in an old murder case related to the Nandigram land movement of 2007.

Why politics heated up after arrest of Congress candidate?

After the arrest of Milan Pradhan, Congress and Mamata Banerjee's faction raised questions. The Congress described the arrest as a political action, while a senior police officer said the matter was not election related. According to the officer, an arrest warrant was pending in the old case and action was taken after reviewing the status of the old warrant during the elections. According to the police, Milan Pradhan did not even have any legal protection from the court.

What happened to TMC's name and election symbol?

Just before the by-election, there has been a big change in the name of Trinamool Congress and the traditional 'Jodaphool' election symbol. The Election Commission has given different names and election symbols to both the rival groups for the upcoming by-elections. Mamata Banerjee's faction has got the name 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' and 'Football Player' election symbol. The other group has been allotted the name ‘Democratic Trinamool Congress’ and ‘Envelope’ election symbol.

Did Mamata challenge the decision of the Election Commission?

Mamata Banerjee has moved the Supreme Court against this interim decision of the Election Commission. In her petition, the decision to freeze the original name of Trinamool Congress and the election symbol ‘Flowers and Grass’ i.e. ‘Jodaphool’ has been challenged. The matter is currently before the court.

When is voting to be held?

By-elections are to be held on both Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly seats on October 6. Nandigram seat has become vacant after Suvendu Adhikari left Nandigram and kept Bhawanipur seat for himself. In the 2026 assembly elections, Adhikari had won from both Nandigram and Bhawanipur seats and later left the Nandigram seat.

Now what will change the equation on both the seats?

The equation of the by-election has changed after both the candidates of Mamata group withdrew from the field. The reason for Rabiul's withdrawal in Rejinagar has been said to be less time to publicize the new election symbol, while in Nandigram, Mamata has supported the Congress candidate after Sanchita's nomination was withdrawn. In such a situation, before the voting on October 6, the contest for both seats will now be between new political equations.