Kolkata, Sept 12: The Ritabrata Banerjee-led group of the Trinamool Congress said on Saturday it would withdraw its candidate from the impending West Bengal assembly bypoll if Mamata Banerjee opts to contest, even as an independent, signalling a tactical accommodation in an otherwise bitter intra-party struggle.
Move framed as effort to bring Mamata back to Assembly
Ritabrata Banerjee, who functions as Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, said his faction had largely finalised its nominee for the bypoll but would step aside should the former Chief Minister enter the fray. He framed the offer as aimed at returning Mamata Banerjee to the legislature and suggested a preference for her contesting from Nandigram, the seat she lost in 2021.
"We want Mamata Banerjee to come to the assembly. It will be better if she comes from Nandigram,"
The remarks come against the backdrop of a public dispute between the Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress and the Ritabrata faction over control of the party name and election symbol. The Election Commission is currently hearing rival claims, and two assembly bypolls are scheduled in the state.
Timing and electoral deadlines
With the last date for filing nominations set as 16 September, the declaration by the Ritabrata group is significant for candidates, poll strategists and voters in constituencies that may see high-profile contests. The faction reiterated its confidence that it would be able to win the bypolls if it stands a candidate, even as it signalled willingness to yield ground for Mamata Banerjee.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Ritabrata faction statement | 12 September 2026 |
| Last date to file nominations | 16 September 2026 |
| Election Commission hearing on party name/symbol | Ongoing |
Political context and implications
The offer to withdraw a candidate if Mamata Banerjee contests carries several immediate implications. First, it may reduce the risk of a multi-cornered clash among factions formally aligned to the Trinamool name, potentially consolidating anti-incumbent or anti-establishment votes around a single high-profile figure.
Second, the move touches on Nandigram’s symbolic value in West Bengal politics. The constituency emerged as a critical battleground in 2021 when Mamata Banerjee lost to the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari. A contest there would draw national attention and could reshape narratives about her political standing and the durability of her mass base.
Third, the statement underlines continuing factional tensions within the party. The dispute over the party’s name and symbol had prompted the Election Commission to step in; the outcome of that adjudication will determine which faction gets to use the established Trinamool identity at the hustings.
- Practical timeline: Candidates must file nominations by 16 September.
- Election body role: The Election Commission is adjudicating rival claims to the party name and symbol.
- Strategic effect: A withdrawal in favour of Mamata could avoid splitting votes among Trinamool-aligned groups.
What remains uncertain
Several questions remain unanswered by the statement. It is not yet known whether Mamata Banerjee intends to contest any of the bypolls; the Ritabrata faction’s offer is conditional on her decision. The precise identity of the candidate the faction had prepared to field was not disclosed. The Election Commission’s timetable for resolving the symbol dispute has not been publicly detailed beyond the information that hearings are under way.
The unfolding weeks will be crucial. With nomination formalities approaching and the Election Commission hearing pending, party loyalists, rival camps and neutral political observers will be watching for moves that could determine whether the bypolls become a straight fight or a fragmented contest.
Meanwhile, the development adds another layer to West Bengal’s charged political landscape, where personal loyalties, local allegiances and party identity continue to shape electoral strategies and outcomes.
