Rebel TMC camp fields candidates for Nandigram, Rejinagar bypolls

The rebel Trinamool Congress faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee on Monday named its candidates for the October 6 byelections to the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly seats, escalating its electoral confrontation with the Mamata Banerjee-led camp amid an unresolved dispute over the party's name, organisational control and election symbol.

Mohammad Eteshamul Haque will contest from Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district, while Safiuzzaman Sheikh has been nominated from Rejinagar in Murshidabad.

The move marks the first major electoral test for the rival faction since the TMC split following the party's defeat in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. The Ritabrata camp had earlier indicated it would not field a candidate from Nandigram if Mamata Banerjee herself entered the fray. With her not contesting, the faction has now put up its nominee, paving the way for a direct clash between the two camps.

The Mamata-led faction had on Sunday announced Sanchita Pradhan (Dey), a new face, as its candidate from Nandigram, and former MLA Rabiul Alam Chowdhury from Rejinagar.

The competing nominations have turned the bypolls into an unusual contest in which both factions will seek to establish themselves as the legitimate political successor of the TMC, even as the BJP looks to capitalise on the division within the opposition party.

The Election Commission has already heard representatives of the two camps over their competing claims to the TMC's name, organisational machinery, assets and the 'Jora Ghash Phool' (twin flowers on grass) symbol.