What led Rabiul Alam Chowdhury to withdraw from the Rejinagar bypoll?

Rabiul Alam Chowdhury decided to withdraw from the Rejinagar bypoll primarily due to the failure to secure the Trinamool Congress party symbol, the 'Twin Flowers'.

How did Mamata Banerjee respond to Sanchita Pradhan Dey's withdrawal from the Nandigram bypoll?

Mamata Banerjee responded by announcing her support for Congress candidate Milan Pradhan after Dey withdrew her nomination, marking a significant change in her electoral strategy.

What are the implications of the Election Commission's freeze on the TMC symbol for the upcoming bypolls?

The Election Commission's freeze on the TMC symbol means that both factions must use new names and symbols in the bypolls, which could impact voter recognition and party identity during the elections.

After Nandigram, TMC's Rejinagar candidate to withdraw from bypoll in fresh setback for Mamata

Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, TMC's Rejinagar Assembly bypoll pick, is set to withdraw his nomination from the race on Saturday.

Updated on: Sep 19, 2026, 12:56:12 IST

By HT News Desk

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Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) suffered another major political jolt on Saturday as Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, the party's candidate for the Rejinagar by-election, decided to withdraw his nomination.

TMC's Rejinagar by-election candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury withdrew his nomination on Saturday (Photos Credit: @RabiulAlamMLA (L); ANI (R))

This setback came just a day after TMC's Nandigram candidate, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, also pulled out of the race.

Chowdhury has announced his decision to withdraw his candidature, citing the primary reason as the failure to secure the Trinamool Congress party symbol—the ‘Twin Flowers’, news agency ANI reported.

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Also Read | Nandigram bypoll: TMC’s Mamata camp candidate withdraws nomination day after meeting Suvendu

Assembly bypolls to Nandigram in East Medinipur district and Rejinagar in Murshidabad district are scheduled for October 6, with vote counting on October 9.

Also Read | ‘But why now?’ Mamata questions arrest of Congress’ Nandigram bypoll candidate, calls it ‘BJP's vendetta politics’

Sanchita Pradhan withdraws from Nandigram

The Nandigram bypoll took a dramatic turn as Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew from the race, prompting Mamata Banerjee to back Congress nominee Milan Pradhan, who was arrested later in a two-decade-old case.

Leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, claimed on Friday that Pradhan's arrest was "no coincidence," but rather politically motivated.

“The arrest of Congress candidate Milan Pradhan for the Nandigram by-election is no coincidence—it is political revenge, the murder of democracy. The BJP has no faith in fair elections—that's why it wants to cling to power sometimes through vote theft, sometimes through stealing governments, and sometimes through stealing parties,” Gandhi said.

"They don't want to contest elections; they want to end the electoral fight altogether. The Congress will neither fear nor bow down. We will fight—and we will win," he added in the post.

On the other hand, Pradhan Dey had met chief minister Suvendu Adhikari along with her husband Satyajit before withdrawing her nomination, a day ahead of the deadline, news agency PTI reported.

Also Read | Mamata Banerjee moves Supreme Court against ECI freeze on TMC symbol

Mamata Banerjee moves SC against ECI freeze on TMC symbol

Mamata Banerjee has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission's decision to freeze the Trinamool Congress' name and party symbol amid a dispute between two rival factions of the TMC.

In her petition filed before the SC on Friday, the ex-CM challenged the poll panel’s interim order passed on Thursday, freezing the original party symbol and asking both factions to choose a name and symbol of their choice, as HT reported earlier.

(with inputs from agencies)

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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