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Mamata Banerjee backs Congress in Nandigram bypoll
The Hindu··18 Sept
Mamata Banerjee said on September 18, 2026 that she will support the Congress candidate in the Nandigram Assembly and Assam Lok Sabha bypolls. Sanchita Pradhan Dey of Mamata All India Trinamool Congress withdrew her Nandigram nomination after meeting Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The Election Commission assigned her faction a new party name and symbol for the October 6 bypolls.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Nandigram voters on October 6 will not see a Mamata All India Trinamool Congress nominee after the withdrawal.
- The Mamata Banerjee faction says it will back the Congress candidate in Nandigram and in an Assam Lok Sabha bypoll.
- Both Trinamool factions now contest under Election Commission-assigned names and symbols in West Bengal, Meghalaya and Tripura.
What's Happening
- Pradhan Dey, a teacher fielded by the Mamata camp, met Suvendu Adhikari at Nabanna with her husband Satyajit before withdrawing.
- The Ritabrata Banerjee faction is recognised as Democratic Trinamool Congress with the envelope symbol.
- Mamata Banerjee's faction is Mamata All India Trinamool Congress with the football player symbol.
How the Party Split Reached the Ballot
- The withdrawal came hours after the Commission assigned the new name and symbol for the October 6 bypolls.
- Mamata Banerjee called it a black day for democracy and said the BJP was trying to destroy opposition parties.
- The Hindu reported the announcement with PTI inputs on September 18, 2026.
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