Candidates for the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly bypolls have started filing their nomination papers. Amid the election activity, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has approached the Congress leadership with a proposal for an alliance in the bypolls.
According to sources, Mamata called AICC general secretary KC Venugopal on Monday evening and proposed that the two parties jointly contest the bypolls to prevent the BJP from gaining ground in Bengal.
BJP faces opposition challenge in bypolls
As part of the proposal, Mamata offered to leave the Nandigram seat for the Congress. She also requested Congress leaders to support the Kalighat Trinamool Congress candidate in Rejinagar. Mamata reportedly offered to withdraw her party’s candidate from Nandigram if Congress agreed to the arrangement.
Mamata seeks Congress support against BJP
The proposal immediately triggered speculation over whether the Congress and Kalighat Trinamool Congress could come together for the bypolls. However, sources said the Congress high command rejected Mamata’s proposal on Monday.
Congress sources said the decision was influenced by Mamata’s earlier exit from alliances and allegations of attacks and harassment against Congress workers during Trinamool’s rule in Bengal.
Nandigram offer comes with Rejinagar request
The bypolls to Nandigram and Rejinagar are scheduled for October 6. Congress, Kalighat Trinamool Congress and the Rittabrata Banerjee-led Trinamool faction have fielded candidates in both constituencies, setting the stage for a triangular contest within the broader opposition space.
Congress rejects Mamata’s alliance proposal
The Ritabrata faction has fielded Ehteshamul Haque in Nandigram and Safiuzzaman Sheikh in Rejinagar. Kalighat Trinamool Congress has nominated Sanchita Pradhan Dey in Nandigram and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury in Rejinagar.
Congress has fielded Milan Pradhan from Nandigram and Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi from Rejinagar. Kafi filed his nomination papers in Rejinagar on Monday in the presence of Pradesh Congress president Shubhankar Sarkar.
Ritabrata faction announces candidates for both
Sarkar said that if Kalighat Trinamool Congress genuinely wanted an alliance, it should support Congress candidates in both Nandigram and Rejinagar. He said such a move could keep the possibility of an alliance open in the future.
Local discontent surrounds Nandigram candidature
Meanwhile, reports have surfaced of local dissatisfaction over Sanchita Pradhan Dey’s candidature in Nandigram. Her name had reportedly surfaced in connection with the 2014 teacher recruitment irregularities, prompting questions about her image among some local Trinamool leaders.
This has also raised questions over whether Mamata approached Congress after facing difficulties in finding a suitable candidate in Nandigram. According to sources, Mamata’s offer to Congress was made against the backdrop of the BJP’s growing presence in the state.
Congress recalls alleged attacks on workers
Congress leaders also cited the history of the two parties. Mamata had joined hands with Congress during the 2011 Assembly election to defeat the Left Front. After the alliance helped Trinamool come to power, Mamata ended the alliance with Congress in 2012.
Congress has since accused the Trinamool government of targeting its workers through attacks and false cases, and has also alleged that some party workers were killed during the period.
