Rabiul Alam Chowdhury U-Turn: Mamata Camp Candidate to Contest Rejinagar Bypoll
Mamata Banerjee faction candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury reversed his decision to withdraw and said he will contest the Rejinagar Assembly bypoll.
Mamata Banerjee’s faction of the Trinamool Congress saw another dramatic twist in West Bengal’s bypoll politics after its Rejinagar candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury reversed his decision to withdraw from the contest. Hours after announcing his exit, Chowdhury said he would remain in the race.
Chowdhury had initially cited difficulties over the faction’s newly allotted election symbol and concerns about campaigning. He said voters could struggle to identify the unfamiliar symbol and also raised concerns about pressure on party workers. After speaking with Mamata Banerjee, however, he decided to continue his campaign.
The Election Commission recently froze the original Trinamool Congress name and its traditional twin-flowers-on-grass symbol amid a dispute between rival factions. Mamata Banerjee’s faction was allotted the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the “Football Player” symbol, while the rival faction received a separate name and the “Envelope” symbol.
The Rejinagar drama follows the withdrawal of Mamata’s faction candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey from Nandigram. Banerjee subsequently announced support for Congress candidate Milan Pradhan there, who was later arrested in connection with pending cases.
With the Rejinagar candidate now back in the race, West Bengal’s bypoll storyline has officially entered its plot-twist era. Voting for Rejinagar and Nandigram is scheduled for October 6, with counting on October 9.
