New Delhi, September 13, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
With by-elections to two West Bengal Assembly seats approaching, the battle between rival Trinamool Congress factions for official recognition has brought renewed focus on whether party founder Mamata Banerjee will seek a return to the state legislature.
The Election Commission on Saturday gave both groups — one led by Mamata Banerjee, often referred to as the “Kalighat Trinamool” after her home address, and the other headed by former Left leader Ritabrata Banerjee — time to present their claims to the original party name and election symbol.
The two factions are seeking recognition before the bypolls to Rejinagar and Nandigram, which fell vacant after the respective winning candidates resigned. According to a recent Election Commission communique, polling is scheduled for October 6, while Wednesday is the last date for filing nominations.
Rejinagar became vacant after Humayun Kabir resigned from the seat while retaining Naoda. Nandigram was vacated by current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari after he moved to Bhabanipur, where he defeated his predecessor and former mentor Mamata Banerjee.
Mamata had lost to Adhikari from Nandigram in the 2021 Assembly elections and subsequently contested from Bhabanipur to return to the Assembly and continue as Chief Minister for a third consecutive term.
Kabir has already invited Mamata to contest from Rejinagar, claiming he could ensure her victory. He was earlier associated with the Trinamool Congress but was suspended after his controversial decision to construct a replica of Ayodhya’s Babri Masjid in Rejinagar, Murshidabad. He later floated the Aam Janata Unnayan Party and contested from two constituencies.
Meanwhile, members of the Ritabrata faction have indicated that they would not field a candidate from Nandigram if Mamata contests herself. Ritabrata, now the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, has also endorsed the position, while noting that a victory would enable her to enter the legislature only through a by-election.
Mamata and her camp have yet to make a definitive announcement on whether she will contest the upcoming polls.
In Nandigram, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is expected to have an advantage if the Ritabrata faction stays out of the contest. However, the faction could otherwise divide votes opposed to Mamata, giving voters who do not support the BJP another option.
The Mamata-led camp is also reportedly facing internal challenges following this year’s election defeat, the defection of several leaders, MPs and MLAs, and arrests or legal proceedings involving several party figures, including her nephew and Trinamool General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
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