KOLKATA, 18 September (H.S.) : In a major political development surrounding the high-stakes Assembly by-election in Nandigram, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, the candidate fielded by Mamata Banerjee’s faction, has officially withdrawn her nomination. The dramatic turnaround unfolded just hours after the Election Commission froze the Trinamool Congress name and twin flowers symbol, subsequently allotting interim names and symbols to the rival factions.

According to reports, Pradhan Dey visited the office of the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) in Haldia on Friday to officially pull out of the electoral race. Her decision followed a meeting with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at his secretariat office (PWD tent). Speculation regarding her potential exit from the contest had intensified immediately following the closed-door meeting, culminating in her formal withdrawal by evening.

The political landscape in the state has remained volatile following internal conflicts and a leadership tussle between Mamata Banerjee and the dissident faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee. In response to the factional dispute, the Election Commission issued an interim order late Thursday barring both camps from using the All India Trinamool Congress name and reserved symbol. On Friday, the poll panel finalized interim designations, granting the Mamata faction the name 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' alongside the 'football player' symbol, while assigning the 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' name and the 'envelope' symbol to the Ritabrata group.

The sudden withdrawal of the Mamata faction's candidate amid these developments has sent ripples through political circles, significantly altering the dynamics and intensifying competition in the upcoming Nandigram by-election.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh