Double setback for Mamata Banerjee: TMC's Rejinagar pick withdraws candidature, day after Nandigram blow
PTC News Desk: Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, the candidate chosen by the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the Rejinagar Assembly bypoll, withdrew his nomination on Saturday.
His decision came a day after Sanchita Pradhan Dey, who was fielded by the same faction from Nandigram, also withdrew from the by-election.
Chowdhury said he took the decision after discussions with Mamata Banerjee. He cited the ongoing legal dispute over the TMC’s name and election symbol, along with alleged intimidation of workers supporting the Mamata-led faction, as factors behind his decision.
Chowdhury blamed harassment of party workers by the state administration for his decision.
"At this moment, the party lacks an official symbol. Party workers are being harassed in various ways, and most of them have left the area for work. With whom am I supposed to contest the election? Given the pressure being exerted by the administration, the workers say they cannot remain in the electoral fray. That is precisely why I have decided to withdraw my nomination," he told mediapersons.
Both Nandigram and Rejinagar are scheduled to vote on October 6. With Chowdhury’s withdrawal, the Mamata Banerjee-led faction no longer has its own candidates in either seat.
Nandigram candidate also withdrew
On Friday, Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew her nomination from Nandigram after meeting Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
Following her withdrawal, Mamata Banerjee announced support for the Congress candidate in the constituency. However, Congress nominee Milan Pradhan was arrested on Friday evening in connection with a 2007 murder case.
The developments came a day after the Election Commission froze the use of the Trinamool Congress name and election symbol. As a result, neither the Mamata Banerjee-led faction nor the faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee could use the original name and symbol for the bypolls.
The Election Commission later allotted new names and symbols to both groups on an interim basis.
Mamata Banerjee’s faction was given the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the Football Player symbol.
The faction led by Arup Roy and Ritabrata Banerjee was allotted the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and the Envelope symbol.
- PTC NEWS
