The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on September 13, 2026, announced its candidates for the bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar constituencies in West Bengal. Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) will contest from Nandigram, while Rabiul Alam Chowdhury will represent the party in Rejinagar. The elections are scheduled for October 6, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI). The party also announced that Adbul Salam will contest from the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency in Assam. The decision to announce candidates came a day after the Ritabrata Banerjee faction of the TMC stated it would not field candidates if Mamata Banerjee decided to contest from Nandigram. However, Banerjee has not contested the bypolls, and the TMC has moved forward with its own candidates.

The bypolls follow the resignation of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari from the Nandigram seat, which he had won in the 2026 Assembly elections. Adhikari had previously defeated Banerjee in that contest. The Rejinagar seat became vacant after Humayun Kabir, founder of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), vacated it. Kabir had won both Naoda and Rejinagar seats. His son, Golam Nabi Azad, will contest from Rejinagar as the AJUP candidate. The bypolls are also part of a broader political landscape where the TMC faces internal divisions over the party symbol, with the Ritabrata Banerjee faction claiming the grass and twin flowers symbol. The TMC leadership has not yet resolved this dispute, and the Election Commission has not yet made a final decision.

Opposition parties have also fielded candidates in the bypolls. The CPI(M)-led Left Front has nominated Sayeed Asad Ali from Rejinagar and Shanti Gopal Giri from Nandigram. The Congress has nominated Mohd Abdullahil Kafi from Rejinagar and Milan Prad, from Nandigram. The bypolls have been seen as a setback to opposition unity, as multiple parties are contesting the seats. The TMC, which lost the 2026 Assembly elections, now has 80 MLAs, with more than 65 supporting the Ritabrata Banerjee faction. The party symbol dispute has further complicated internal cohesion.

The TMC's decision to field its own candidates for the bypolls has been framed as a move to maintain control over the constituencies. The party's leadership has not commented on the internal factional tensions, and no response has been provided from the Ritabrata Banerjee faction. The Election Commission has not yet resolved the symbol dispute, and the outcome of the bypolls could influence the political balance in West Bengal. The results are expected to be announced on October 9. The bypolls also highlight the ongoing political fragmentation in the state, with multiple parties vying for influence in key constituencies.

The situation remains unclear on how the party symbol dispute will be resolved, and whether the Ritabrata Banerjee faction will contest the bypolls as independents if the TMC leadership does not yield. The TMC's internal divisions have been a significant factor in its recent electoral performance, and the bypolls may serve as a test of its ability to maintain unity. The outcome of the bypolls could also impact the broader political landscape in West Bengal, where the TMC faces challenges from both internal factions and opposition parties. The results are expected to be closely watched by political analysts and observers.