Rejinagar Bypoll Drama: Hours After Withdrawal Move, Mamata Faction Candidate Reverses Withdrawal Decision
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, the Mamata Banerjee-led faction's candidate for the Rejinagar Assembly bypoll in West Bengal, has reversed his decision to withdraw and will contest the October 6 election.
Candidate Changes Decision Within Hours
Chowdhury had earlier announced that he would withdraw his nomination, citing difficulties faced by party workers in campaigning with the faction's newly allotted election symbol and alleged administrative pressure.
Rabiul Alam Chowdhury said that there was only one reason for his U-turn: their leader Mamata Banerjee had instructed them to contest the election.
He added that they were Mamata Banerjee's soldiers and would therefore contest the election.
The reversal came on the final day for withdrawal of nominations, adding another twist to an already unsettled bypoll contest.
Abu Taher Khan Questions Decision
Murshidabad Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Abu Taher Khan criticised the decision to field a candidate in Rejinagar.
"She had always been misled by some people. She had been misled this time as well," Khan said, referring to Mamata Banerjee.
His remarks came amid continuing differences within the Trinamool Congress following the split between rival factions and the Election Commission's decision to freeze the party's original name and symbol.
New Party Name, New Election Symbol
The Election Commission has barred both rival factions from using the original "All India Trinamool Congress" name and the traditional twin-flowers-on-grass symbol for the bypolls.
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction has been allotted the name "Mamata All India Trinamool Congress" and the "Football Player" symbol. The rival faction has been allotted the name "Democratic Trinamool Congress" and the "Envelope" symbol.
Mamata Banerjee has challenged the Election Commission's decision in the Supreme Court.
Rejinagar, Nandigram Bypolls on October 6
Polling for Rejinagar and Nandigram is scheduled for October 6, with counting on October 9.
The Rejinagar development follows another dramatic episode in Nandigram, where Sanchita Pradhan Dey, the Mamata-led faction's candidate, withdrew her nomination after meeting West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
Mamata Banerjee subsequently announced support for Congress candidate Milan Pradhan.
The back-to-back developments have left the two bypoll contests at the centre of the ongoing dispute over the Trinamool Congress name, symbol and rival factions.
