The Trinamool Congress faction led by Leader of Opposition (LoP) Ritabrata Banerjee, on Monday, announced its candidates for the upcoming bypolls to the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies in West Bengal.
Mohammad Eteshamul Haque has been named the rebel faction’s candidate for Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district, while Safiuddin Sheikh will contest from Rejinagar in Murshidabad district.
The bypolls to both seats are scheduled to be held on October 6 with counting set for October 9, 2026.
The decision assumes significance as it marks the first major electoral test for the rival faction following the split in the TMC after the party’s defeat in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. The faction had earlier indicated that it would not field a candidate from Nandigram if TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee contested the seat.
With Banerjee not entering the race, the rebel camp has now fielded its nominee. The move comes amid an ongoing dispute between the two factions over the party’s name, organisational control, assets and election symbol, with the Election Commission yet to decide the matter.
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction has already announced Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) as its candidate for Nandigram and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury for Rejinagar, further setting up a contest between the two TMC factions in both constituencies.
The Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls are therefore set to be an early electoral test of the rival TMC camps as the battle for the party’s political identity and organisational control continues.
