Kolkata, 14 September (H.S.) : Political activity has intensified in West Bengal ahead of the upcoming by-elections, but uncertainty continues over the nomination of candidates announced by the Kalighat faction of the Trinamool Congress, with the Election Commission yet to decide which faction will retain the party's name and the ‘twin flowers and grass’ symbol.

The deadline for filing nominations is September 16. Three days before the deadline, the Kalighat Trinamool Congress on Sunday announced its candidates for the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies. School teacher Sanchita Pradhan De has been nominated from Nandigram, while former MLA Rabiul Alam Chowdhury will contest from Rejinagar.

However, with the Trinamool Congress currently divided into two factions, the Election Commission has not yet clarified which group will be allotted the party's election symbol. With the nomination deadline approaching, questions remain over the symbol under which the candidates announced by the Kalighat faction will file their nomination papers.

The Kalighat faction announced its candidates for both constituencies on Sunday. Sanchita Pradhan De, a school teacher and former Panchayat Samiti member, is a resident of the Bayal area of East Midnapore district. In the recent Assembly election, the Trinamool Congress had fielded Pabitra Kar, who had joined the party from the BJP, from Nandigram.

Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, the candidate from Rejinagar, has previously represented the constituency in the Assembly. He won the seat for the first time on a Congress ticket in 2013 and retained it in 2016. He later left the Congress and joined the Trinamool Congress, winning the Rejinagar seat for a third time in 2021 on the party's election symbol.

Meanwhile, the dispute between the Kalighat Trinamool and the Ritabrata Banerjee faction over control of the Trinamool Congress name, election symbol and party funds has reached the Election Commission. On Saturday, the Commission held separate meetings with five representatives from each faction.

Following the meetings, the Commission sent separate letters to both sides on Sunday, asking them to submit additional documents by September 16. If required, the Commission may hold another meeting or hearing on September 17. However, September 16 is also the last date for filing nominations for the by-elections.

The Kalighat faction is confident that it will retain the ‘twin flowers and grass’ symbol associated with the Trinamool Congress founded by Mamata Banerjee. Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee said on Sunday that the party's candidates would contest the by-elections using the same symbol.

The Ritabrata Banerjee faction, meanwhile, is expected to announce its candidates on Monday. This makes the Election Commission's decision on the party name and symbol particularly significant for both factions before the nomination deadline.

There is also speculation in political circles that the Commission could temporarily freeze the disputed symbol until a final decision is reached. In such a scenario, the two factions could be allotted separate temporary names and symbols for the by-elections. If the Ritabrata faction is allotted the ‘twin flowers and grass’ symbol, the Kalighat faction may have to contest from Nandigram and Rejinagar using another symbol, and vice versa.

A section of political observers and legal experts believes that the Kalighat faction currently appears to have a relatively stronger position in terms of the documents submitted to the Commission. However, the final decision will depend on the documentary evidence and arguments presented by both sides.

The by-elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar will be held on October 6, with counting scheduled for October 9. In the 2026 Assembly election, then Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari won both Nandigram and Bhabanipur. He later vacated the Nandigram seat, necessitating the by-election.

Similarly, Humayun Kabir, chief of the Aam Janata Vikas Party, won both Naoda and Rejinagar in the Assembly election. He retained Naoda and vacated Rejinagar, leading to the by-election in the constituency.

Apart from the Kalighat Trinamool faction, the Left Front and the Congress also announced their candidates for the two constituencies on Sunday. In Nandigram, the CPI has fielded Shanti Giri, while the Congress has nominated Milan Pradhan. In Rejinagar, Humayun Kabir's son Golam Nabi Azad will contest on the Aam Janata Vikas Party ticket. The Congress has fielded Mohammad Abdullahi Kafi, while the Left Front has nominated Syed Asad Ali.

The BJP has not yet announced its candidates for either constituency.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh