Mamata Faction Candidate Reverses Rejinagar Bypoll Withdrawal
Mamata Faction Candidate Reverses Rejinagar Bypoll Withdrawal
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Key Points
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The Rejinagar bypoll was triggered after AJUP leader Humayun Kabir, who had won both Rejinagar and Naoda in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, chose to retain Naoda; his son, Golam Nabi Azad, is contesting Rejinagar for the AJUP.
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The rival Trinamool faction led by Arup Roy, also identified as the Ritabrata Banerjee camp, was allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the “Envelope” symbol, while Mamata Banerjee’s faction received the “Football Player” symbol.
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Abu Taher Khan, the Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP from Murshidabad, criticized the decision to field a candidate in Rejinagar, saying of Mamata Banerjee: “She had always been misled by some people. She had been misled this time as well.”
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Reports said Chowdhury alleged that party workers were being prevented from campaigning and that several had been arrested, adding a specific allegation of coercive administrative action to his concerns about the campaign.
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Chowdhury reportedly received assurances about the security of party workers before agreeing to continue his campaign in Rejinagar.
Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, backed by Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress faction, reversed his withdrawal from the Rejinagar Assembly bypoll within hours on Saturday. He had initially quit over campaign difficulties with the faction's new "Football Player" symbol and concerns about worker safety, but rejoined the race after personal appeals from Banerjee and other party leaders Telegraph India.
The reversal comes as Banerjee's faction faces an Election Commission dispute. The agency barred rival Trinamool factions from using the party's traditional name and symbol, assigning Mamata's group the "Football Player" emblem and the rival group the "Democratic Trinamool Congress" name with an "Envelope" symbol. Voting is scheduled for October 6, with results on October 9 Business Standard.
Chowdhury's Quick Reversal After Party Pressure
On Saturday morning, Chowdhury announced he was quitting the race, citing severe campaign obstacles under the newly assigned "Football Player" symbol. He claimed party workers faced arrest and were prevented from campaigning. Within one hour, he reversed his decision after direct appeals from Banerjee and other senior leaders Telegraph India.
Chowdhury reportedly received written assurances about worker security before agreeing to stay in the contest Daily Hunt. His sudden reversal mirrors the faction's earlier flip-flop in Nandigram, where their candidate withdrew and Banerjee backed Congress candidate Milan Pradhan—who was subsequently arrested in connection with an older murder case Business Standard.
Election Commission Symbol Dispute Complicates Both Bypolls
The Election Commission split Trinamool into two factions, each assigned a different symbol. Mamata Banerjee's group received the "Football Player" symbol, while the rival faction led by Arup Roy (also called the Ritabrata Banerjee camp) got the "Democratic Trinamool Congress" name and "Envelope" symbol Business Standard.
This split creates confusion among voters and complicates campaigning for both sides. The Rejinagar and Nandigram bypolls are the first major electoral test of these rival factions after the commission's decision Moneycontrol.
Why Rejinagar Bypoll Was Triggered
The Rejinagar seat became vacant after AJUP leader Humayun Kabir, who won both Rejinagar and Naoda in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, chose to keep Naoda. His son, Golam Nabi Azad, is now contesting Rejinagar for the AJUP Telegraph India.
Mamata's faction fielded Chowdhury against Azad and the rival faction's candidate. Party MP Abu Taher Khan criticized the decision to contest, saying Mamata "had been misled this time as well" Business Standard.
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