Mamata to support Congress in Nandigram bypoll after candidate withdraws nomination

The development came hours after the Election Commission assigned the Ms. Banerjee-led faction a new party name and symbol for the October 6 bypolls

Updated - September 18, 2026 07:37 pm IST - Kolkata

Mamata Banerjee hit out at the Election Commission over its decision to freeze the TMC’s name and symbol, and said the move was “arbitrary”. | Photo Credit: ANI

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Friday (September 18, 2026) that her party will support Congress candidate in Nandigram Assembly and Assam Lok Sabha bypolls.

She made this announcement after the candidate of Mamata All India Trinamool Congress Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) withdrew her nomination from Nandigram Assembly seat, leaving her party without a candidate in Nandigram.

Ms. Pradhan (Dey) took the decision after meeting West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari late on Thursday evening. Later in the evening, Congress candidate from Nandigram, Milan Pradhan, was arrested by the police.

The development came hours after the Election Commission assigned the Ms. Banerjee-led faction a new party name and symbol for the October 6 bypolls, effectively ending its immediate claim to the Trinamool Congress' traditional identity. Earlier in the day, Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have come in support of Mamata Banerjee over the ECI freezing the name and symbol of her party.

Addressing a press conference, the former West Bengal Chief Minister described the ECI decision of freezing of party as a “Black day for democracy” said that ‘she will fight it out”.

BJP has nominated Hasirani Rath, mother of Chandranath Rath, former aide of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who was killed on May 6. The bypoll at Nandigram is being held because Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari relinquished the seat after getting elected from Bhabanipur and Nandigram both during the 2026 Assembly polls.

Mr. Adhikari defeated former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from Nandigram by a margin of 1956 votes in 2021 and in 2026 his margin over the Trinamool Congress candidate was 9665 votes. The election is turning out to be a prestige fight for the Chief Minister. Bypolls for the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly seats are scheduled for October 6.

Published - September 18, 2026 05:06 pm IST

Kolkata / West Bengal / state politics

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