Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate for the Rejinagar Assembly bypoll, initially announced his withdrawal from the contest on September 19, 2026, citing difficulties in motivating grassroots workers and challenges posed by a new party symbol. However, he retracted his decision hours later, stating that he had been instructed by party leader Mamata Banerjee not to withdraw. The Election Commission had frozen the original TMC symbol and name, assigning the ‘footballer’ symbol to the faction led by Banerjee and the ‘envelope’ symbol to the rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee.

The bypolls for Rejinagar and Nandigram are scheduled for October 6, with vote counting on October 9. The Nandigram bypoll also saw a dramatic turn as Sanchita Pradhan Dey, the TMC candidate, withdrew her nomination after a meeting with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. This prompted Banerjee to support Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, who was later arrested in a 19-year-old case. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of politically motivated action, claiming the arrest was part of a broader effort to undermine electoral democracy.

Chowdhury stated that he had been assured of security by the police following Banerjee’s intervention. He expressed confidence in continuing the campaign, stating that even if only 10 workers supported him, he would proceed with a door-to-door campaign. The Election Commission’s decision to freeze the TMC symbol has created unexpected circumstances, with the Indian Secular Front (ISF) being assigned a different symbol, potentially altering the electoral landscape.

Mamata Banerjee has also moved the Supreme Court to challenge the Election Commission’s interim order, arguing that the freeze on the TMC symbol and name is part of an internal dispute between factions. The Supreme Court’s decision could have significant implications for the party’s electoral strategy and its ability to field candidates in upcoming polls.

The situation remains unclear regarding the full impact of the symbol dispute on the bypoll outcomes. While Chowdhury’s retraction suggests continued TMC involvement, the broader implications of the symbol freeze and factional tensions remain uncertain. No official response from the TMC has been provided regarding the symbol issue, and the final outcome of the bypolls will depend on voter behavior and the effectiveness of the campaigns.

The political landscape in West Bengal continues to be shaped by internal party dynamics and external pressures, with the bypolls serving as a barometer of the TMC’s strength and the challenges it faces in maintaining its dominance. As the election date approaches, the focus will shift to the ground-level campaigning and the ability of candidates to mobilize support in the face of ongoing uncertainties.