Kolkata, 1 December (H.S.):
Trinamool Congress national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee on Monday firmly rejected speculation about his potential candidacy from Nandigram, stating that he will contest from whichever seat the party decides. Banerjee stressed that the decision lies entirely with the party and that the BJP need not be concerned about it.
Speaking at an event in Maheshtala under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, Banerjee said that whether it is Nandigram or Darjeeling, he will follow the party’s directive without hesitation. He suggested that the current buzz may have been fuelled by BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar’s political aspirations, although the Trinamool makes its own decisions independently.
The controversy began after Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar claimed on Sunday that Banerjee was preparing to contest from Nandigram and was allegedly positioning close associates in key administrative roles in the district. However, Majumdar later added that the BJP would defeat Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regardless of the seat she contests.
Banerjee dismissed the claims as “fabricated noise,” reiterating that he would work exactly in the manner the party requires.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari challenged Banerjee openly, asserting that the people of Nandigram would not vote for him even if he decided to run from the constituency. Adhikari has long projected Nandigram as a stronghold of the BJP, while the Trinamool has countered this as a reflection of his political insecurity.
Trinamool Congress spokesperson Arup Chakraborty launched a counterattack, alleging that the BJP’s top leadership has already placed Adhikari on its “dislike list.” He added that the Trinamool’s performance in recent panchayat elections in Nandigram shows that Adhikari’s biggest challenge is retaining his own seat.
Nandigram continues to be a focal point in Bengal’s political narrative. The 2007 anti-land acquisition movement reshaped state politics and brought both Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari to prominence, strengthening the Trinamool’s rise between 2008 and 2011.
The fiercely contested 2021 Nandigram assembly battle, in which Mamata Banerjee lost by about 1900 votes, remains a subject of intense debate.
Though she returned to the assembly with a decisive victory from Bhabanipur, Nandigram continues to carry deep political significance.
Ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, with the SIR process underway and rising political temperatures across the state, speculation over Abhishek Banerjee’s possible seat choice again thrust Nandigram into the spotlight. Banerjee, however, has made it clear that he has no personal preference and that the final decision rests solely with the party.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
