Big Nandigram Twist : Mamata Drops Candidate, Supports Congress

Kolkata: West Bengal politics has witnessed a dramatic turn, with the Trinamool Congress facing a major dispute over its party name and election symbol, even as a fresh political twist unfolds in Nandigram. Ahead of the October 6 by-election, the Election Commission has temporarily frozen the original ‘All India Trinamool Congress’ name and its traditional ‘Jora Phool’ (twin flowers) symbol amid the dispute between the two factions. The Commission has subsequently allotted separate names and symbols to the rival camps for the upcoming by-election.

Under the interim arrangement, Mamata Banerjee’s faction has been allotted the name ‘Mamata All India Trinamool Congress’ along with the ‘Football Player’ symbol, while the rebel faction has been allotted the name ‘Democratic Trinamool Congress’ and the ‘Envelope’ symbol. The Election Commission has clarified that these names and symbols are only an interim arrangement for the upcoming by-election, and the final decision over the original TMC name and its traditional symbol is still pending.

Amid the ongoing dispute, Nandigram has witnessed another major political twist. Mamata Banerjee’s faction candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew her nomination, following which Mamata announced support for the Congress candidate in the Nandigram by-election, citing solidarity with the INDIA alliance. The move has added a new dimension to the electoral contest and comes as the two TMC factions continue their dispute over the party’s identity.

The development means that while the two rival TMC factions have been given separate identities for the by-election, Mamata’s camp has chosen to support Congress in Nandigram after withdrawing its own candidate. The move has brought the INDIA alliance into focus in the constituency and marks a significant change in the electoral equations ahead of polling.

The TMC name-and-symbol dispute, meanwhile, remains unresolved. The Election Commission’s decision to freeze the original party name and ‘Jora Phool’ symbol means that neither faction can use the traditional identity for the upcoming by-election. Both camps were asked to submit their preferred names and free symbols, following which the Commission allotted the interim identities.

The Nandigram by-election is scheduled for October 6, 2026, with counting scheduled for October 9. With Mamata’s candidate withdrawing and the Congress receiving her camp’s support, the constituency is now witnessing a closely watched political development, while the larger dispute over the TMC’s official identity awaits a final decision.

Please follow and like us: