Will withdraw candidate if Mamata contests Nandigram bypoll: Bengal LoP Ritabrata

The remarks come amid an ongoing dispute between the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the All India Trinamool Congress and the Ritabrata faction over the party's name and election symbol.

In Short

• Ritabrata Banerjee said that he wants Mamata Banerjee to win Nandigram bypolls
• The remarks came amid the faction's fight over party name and symbol
• The Bengal LoP also mocked Mamata Banerjee's reliance on bypolls

The Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress on Saturday said it would withdraw its candidate from the upcoming West Bengal Assembly bypoll in Nandigram if Mamata Banerjee decides to contest, saying that he and several leaders of his faction want the former chief minister back in the Assembly.

Ritabrata, the Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, further said that his group had almost finalised its candidate for the bypoll but would withdraw the nominee if Mamata Banerjee chose to contest, even as an independent.

"We want Dr Mamata Banerjee to come to the Assembly. It will be better if she comes from Nandigram," Ritabrata Banerjee said, referring to the constituency from where Mamata Banerjee lost the 2021 Assembly election.

The remarks come amid an ongoing dispute between the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the All India Trinamool Congress and the Ritabrata faction over the party's name and election symbol. The Election Commission is hearing the rival claims as two Assembly bypolls are scheduled in West Bengal.

While making the remarks, Ritabrata also took a jibe at Mamata Banerjee, saying she has a track record of not contesting and winning a direct Assembly election and instead relying on bypolls to enter Bengal's legislative House.

Mamata Banerjee did not contest the 2011 Assembly election and later won from Bhabanipore in a bypoll. Ten years later, she lost the Assembly election in Nandigram to her bete noire Suvendu Adhikari, and subsequently secured victory through another bypoll in Bhabanipore. Only in 2016 did she contest and directly win from Bhabanipore.

In multiple local television interviews, Ritabrata also said that in the 2026 Assembly polls, Mamata Banerjee failed to win in her constituency, her ward and even her own booth. Hence, he wants Mamata Banerjee to win this time from the Nandigram Assembly seat.

The bypoll has become necessary in Nandigram as the Bengal Chief Minister and incumbent MLA Suvendu Adhikari has vacated the seat and retained Bhabanipore. The poll in the constituency will be held on October 6, with the results to be declared on October 9.

The last date to file nominations is September 16. Ritabrata Banerjee said his faction was confident of winning the seat.

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