Kolkata10 hours agoAuthor: Tirthankar Das
The upcoming Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly bypolls have turned into a multi-cornered contest, with the BJP, two rival Trinamool Congress factions, Congress and the Left fielding candidates.
Nandigram
Hasirani Rath — BJP Hasirani Rath is the mother of Chandranath Rath, a former personal aide of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari who was killed shortly after the 2026 Assembly election results. The CBI is investigating his murder. Her candidature gives the BJP’s Nandigram campaign a strong emotional and political angle.
Sanchita Pradhan Dey — Mamata-led TMC A grassroots worker and schoolteacher, Sanchita Pradhan Dey has been chosen by the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction for Nandigram. Her selection came amid the continuing dispute between the two TMC camps over the party’s identity and election symbol.
Mohammad Ehteshamul Haque — Ritabrata camp The Ritabrata Banerjee-led TMC faction has fielded Mohammad Ehteshamul Haque in Nandigram. His candidature adds another TMC face to a constituency already witnessing a contest between rival factions of the party.
Shantigopal Giri — CPI The CPI has nominated Shantigopal Giri for Nandigram. He is the Left Front’s candidate from the seat, with the party seeking to regain space in a constituency that has become one of Bengal’s most politically significant battlegrounds.
Milan Pradhan — Congress Congress has fielded Milan Pradhan in Nandigram. His candidature was approved by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as the party decided to contest the seat independently.
Rejinagar
Shakharav Sarkar — BJP A former Murshidabad district BJP president and current member of the party’s state committee, Shakharav Sarkar brings long organisational experience to the Rejinagar contest.
Rabiul Alam Chowdhury — Mamata-led TMC A former Rejinagar MLA, Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, has returned to the constituency as the Mamata-led TMC candidate. He won Rejinagar in 2013 and 2016 on a Congress ticket before later joining TMC and winning the seat again in 2021. He lost the 2026 Beldanga election to the BJP.
Sheikh Safiuddin Zaman — Ritabrata camp The Ritabrata-led faction has nominated Sheikh Safiuddin Zaman for Rejinagar, putting another TMC candidate into the contest amid the ongoing battle between the two factions.
Said Asad Ali — CPI(M) CPI(M) has fielded Said Asad Ali from Rejinagar as part of the Left’s separate contest in the bypoll.
Bikash Chandra Mishra — RSP RSP has decided to contest Rejinagar separately after differences with the CPI(M) over seat-sharing. The party has nominated Bikash Chandra Mishra, creating an additional contest within the Left camp.
Mohd Abdullahil Kafi — Congress Congress has nominated Mohd Abdullahil Kafi for Rejinagar. His candidature was approved by Mallikarjun Kharge. He will face a strong challenge from the AJUP camp, which has fielded Golam Nabi Azad Robin, son of former Rejinagar MLA Humayun Kabir.
With rival TMC factions, BJP, Congress, and multiple Left parties in the fray, both constituencies are set for closely watched multi-cornered contests.
(GFX by Gaurav Raj)
