After Nandigram, the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress has also been left without a candidate in Rejinagar after Rabiul Alam Chowdhury withdrew his nomination on Saturday, the last day for withdrawal.
New election symbol cited as concern
Rabiul said he decided to withdraw because the new election symbol would be difficult to introduce to voters and party workers were not willing to campaign amid pressure. He also said he had spoken to Mamata Banerjee about the decision.
Decision follows Sanchita’s Nandigram withdrawal
The development came a day after Sanchita Pradhan Dey, the Mamata faction’s candidate in Nandigram, withdrew her nomination. Mamata Banerjee subsequently announced support for Congress candidate Milan Pradhan in Nandigram. She had earlier said that a decision on Rejinagar would be taken later.
Election Commission freezes original TMC identity
The Election Commission had frozen the use of the Trinamool Congress name and its traditional election symbol amid the dispute between rival factions. The commission allotted the name ‘Mamata All India Trinamool Congress’ and the ‘Football Player’ symbol to the Mamata-led faction, while the rival faction received a separate name and symbol.
Rabiul had originally been announced as the Mamata faction’s candidate for Rejinagar on September 13. The bypoll is scheduled for October 6, with counting on October 9.
Mamata faction now lacks both candidates
With Rabiul’s withdrawal, the Mamata-led faction now has no candidate in either of the two West Bengal Assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar. The development has added another turn to the ongoing dispute over the Trinamool Congress name, symbol and organisational control.
