Mamata Banerjee backs Congress in Nandigram and Assam bypolls after candidate withdrawal

Kolkata: Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has announced that she will support the Congress candidates in the Nandigram and Assam bypolls, after her party's Nandigram candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew her nomination on Friday afternoon.

Banerjee suffered a major jolt on Friday after losing her twin flower symbol, her party's name and the sudden withdrawal of her Nandigram candidate from the bypolls. Banerjee's faction was allotted a new symbol of a footballer and a new name -- Mamata All India Trinamool Congress -- by the ECI on Friday.

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Saturday is the last date for withdrawal of nominations leaving Mamata Banerjee with no scope to nominate a new candidate in Nandigram now. However, she said, "We had already decided to support the Congress in Nandigram as the Congress candidate is strong."

She said she had nothing against her party's Nandigram candidate as she alleged that she was "threatened by the BJP and has a small child". She said she will announce her decision on Rejinagar in Murshidabad later.

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"Rahul Gandhi called me yesterday. We are doing this in the greater interest of the nation. Gandhi is ready to extend all support. Arvindji and other leaders have also communicated with us. We are all together and we will fight this political battle together," Banerjee said. A controversy erupted after a photo emerged on Friday afternoon where Sanchita Pradhan Dey was seen at a meeting with chief minister Suvendu Adhikari. The photograph created a major row in political circles.

Nandigram and Rejinagar will go for bypolls on October 6. Counting will be on October 9.

The Nandigram assembly seat fell vacant after Suvendu Adhikari, who won both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in 2026, retained Bhabanipur and resigned from Nandigram. Rejinagar seat was vacated by AAJUP MLA Humayun Kabir, who retained the Nawada seat and resigned from Rejinagar.