Ritabrata-led TMC camp names candidates for Bengal bypolls
A rebel faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has announced its own candidates for upcoming West Bengal bypolls, deepening the split within the party. This move sets up a direct electoral confrontation between the two factions as they vie for the party's legacy and symbols.
Why it matters
The internal division of a major regional party significantly alters the political landscape in West Bengal and provides an opening for opposition parties like the BJP.
The rebel TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee on Monday (September 14, 2026) named its candidates for the October 6 byelections to Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly seats, taking the electoral battle with the Mamata Banerjee-led camp to the next level amid an unresolved dispute over the party's name, organisational control and election symbol.
Mohammad Eteshamul Haque will contest from Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district as the rebel TMC candidate, while Safiuzzaman Sheikh has been nominated from Rejinagar in Murshidabad.
The decision assumes significance as it is the first major electoral test for the rival faction since the TMC split following the party's defeat in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
The Ritabrata camp had earlier said it would not field a candidate from Nandigram if Mamata Banerjee herself contested the seat.
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2 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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