Mamata camp faces another candidate withdrawal ahead of bypoll (Img: X)
Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, the candidate announced by the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress for the Rejinagar Assembly bypoll in West Bengal, has withdrawn his candidature, marking another major change for the faction ahead of the October 6 election.
Chowdhury was announced as the faction’s Rejinagar candidate on September 13, along with Sanchita Pradhan (Dey), who was fielded from Nandigram. The party had named both candidates under the guidance and inspiration of its chairperson, Mamata Banerjee.
Chowdhury’s decision comes a day after Pradhan withdrew her nomination from Nandigram following a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at the state secretariat, Nabanna.
Pradhan subsequently withdrew her nomination at the office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Haldia. The development was followed by Mamata Banerjee announcing that her faction would not contest Nandigram and would instead support Congress candidate Milan Pradhan.
Speaking at a press conference at her Kalighat residence, Mamata said, “We will not contest in Nandigram. We will support our sister party, Congress. This will strengthen the INDIA bloc."
She also said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had called her on Thursday night, after which she decided to support Milan Pradhan.
“We are all together; we will fight together. We will support all normal alliances. We will support our sister parties," Mamata said.
At the time, Mamata had indicated that a decision on Rejinagar would be taken later. Chowdhury’s withdrawal now represents another change from the candidate list announced by her faction on September 13.
Both Rejinagar and Nandigram are scheduled to vote on October 6, with counting set for October 9.
In Rejinagar, Congress has fielded Mohd. Abdullahil Kafi, while the CPI(M) has nominated advocate Sayeed Asad Ali. The CPI has fielded Shanti Gopal Giri from Nandigram.
The Rejinagar Assembly seat fell vacant after the resignation of Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder Humayun Kabir, who had also secured victory from Nowda, according to ANI.
The Nandigram bypoll was necessitated after Suvendu Adhikari gave up the seat and chose to retain Bhabanipur, where he had defeated Mamata Banerjee in the Assembly elections held earlier this year.
The withdrawals come amid the Election Commission of India’s decision involving the two rival Trinamool Congress factions. The poll panel had initially frozen the name “All India Trinamool Congress" and the “Flowers & Grass" symbol.
It later allotted separate names and symbols to the factions. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction was allotted “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress" and the “Football Players" symbol.
The rival faction led by expelled party legislator Ritabrata Banerjee was allotted “Democratic Trinamool Congress" and the “Envelope" symbol.
