The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress has announced its candidates for the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly by-elections, scheduled for October 6. Sanchita Pradhan will contest from Nandigram, and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury from Rejinagar. This announcement comes amid a significant internal dispute within the TMC, with two rival factions claiming the party's name and election symbol. The Election Commission has been hearing the competing claims from both camps regarding party identity, organizational control, and assets. The Nandigram seat became vacant following Suvendu Adhikari's resignation, while the Rejinagar seat fell vacant due to Humayun Kabir's resignation. Other political parties, including the Congress and CPI(M), have also declared their candidates for these upcoming by-elections.

The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress has announced its candidates for the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly by-elections, scheduled for October 6. Sanchita Pradhan will contest from Nandigram, and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury from Rejinagar. This announcement comes amid a significant internal dispute within the TMC, with two rival factions claiming the party's name and election symbol. The Election Commission has been hearing the competing claims from both camps regarding party identity, organizational control, and assets. The Nandigram seat became vacant following Suvendu Adhikari's resignation, while the Rejinagar seat fell vacant due to Humayun Kabir's resignation. Other political parties, including the Congress and CPI(M), have also declared their candidates for these upcoming by-elections.

The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress has announced its candidates for the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly by-elections, scheduled for October 6. Sanchita Pradhan will contest from Nandigram, and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury from Rejinagar. This announcement comes amid a significant internal dispute within the TMC, with two rival factions claiming the party's name and election symbol. The Election Commission has been hearing the competing claims from both camps regarding party identity, organizational control, and assets. The Nandigram seat became vacant following Suvendu Adhikari's resignation, while the Rejinagar seat fell vacant due to Humayun Kabir's resignation. Other political parties, including the Congress and CPI(M), have also declared their candidates for these upcoming by-elections.

Amid the ongoing battle between two rival factions of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) over the party’s name and election symbol, the Mamata Banerjee-led camp on Saturday announced its candidates for the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies, where by-elections are scheduled for October 6.

Sanchita Pradhan, a new face, has been fielded from Nandigram, while former MLA Rabiul Alam Chowdhury will contest from Rejinagar. The rival faction, led by West Bengal Assembly Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, is yet to announce its candidates.

The Nandigram by-election was necessitated after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari vacated the seat and retained Bhabanipur, where he defeated Mamata Banerjee. The Rejinagar seat fell vacant following the resignation of Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder Humayun Kabir, who had also won from Nowda.

There had been speculation that the Mamata-led faction might field party veteran Akhil Giri from Nandigram after Banerjee spoke to him over the phone and subsequently asked him to meet her at her Kalighat residence on Saturday.

The rebel faction had earlier said it would not field a candidate from Nandigram if Banerjee decided to contest the seat. “We want Mamata Banerjee to come to the Assembly,” Ritabrata had said.

The Congress has fielded Mohd. Abdullahil Kafi from Rejinagar and Milan Pradhan from Nandigram. The CPI(M) has nominated advocate Sayeed Asad Ali for Rejinagar, while the CPI has fielded Shanti Gopal Giri from Nandigram.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Saturday heard representatives of the two rival TMC camps over their competing claims to the party’s name, organisational control, assets and the ‘Jora Ghash Phool’ (twin flowers on grass) election symbol.

The TMC suffered an unprecedented split following its defeat in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.

The Mamata Banerjee-led camp has maintained that it is the legitimate Trinamool Congress, arguing that the party’s existing organisational committees continue to remain valid under its constitution.

The rebel camp, headed by Ritabrata Banerjee, has claimed the support of a majority of the newly elected TMC MLAs and sought recognition as the legitimate TMC, along with control of the party’s name and election symbol.

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