Rebel Trinamool faction offers to stand down in Nandigram if Mamata Banerjee runs

The rebel faction of the Trinamool Congress has offered to pull its candidate from the upcoming Nandigram by-election if former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee decides to stand.

Ritabrata Banerjee, the Leader of the Opposition who heads the breakaway group, announced the move before heading to Delhi for a critical Election Commission hearing over the party's name and symbol. He said his faction wants Mamata Banerjee back in the legislative assembly, suggesting it would be fitting for her to run in Nandigram—the seat she lost in the 2021 state elections.

The offer, however, carries a sharp political sting. While presenting it as a gesture of support, Ritabrata Banerjee pointedly mocked his rival's electoral record. He remarked that the former Chief Minister has a habit of losing direct assembly contests and relying on by-elections to secure her seat. During the state elections earlier this year, he claimed, she even failed to win her own polling booth and ward in Bhabanipur.

"We want Dr Mamata Banerjee to come to the assembly. It will be better if she comes from Nandigram," Ritabrata Banerjee said.

The Kalighat-based TMC leadership has not yet responded to the offer. The Nandigram seat became vacant after Suvendu Adhikari decided to vacate it and retain Bhabanipore. The by-election is scheduled for 6 October, alongside another vote in Rejinagar, with the results expected on 9 October.

The political manoeuvring coincides with an urgent battle for the party's identity in New Delhi. On Saturday, a five-member delegation from the rebel group met with officials to assert their claim to the official TMC symbol and name. The delegation—which included Ritabrata Banerjee, chief whip Akhruzzaman, Arup Roy, Chandrima Bhattacharya, and Riju Datta—described the discussions as "very fruitful".

However, the dispute remains unresolved. The Election Commission has requested additional documents from the rebel faction, which Banerjee said would be submitted by the end of Saturday. They are pressing the commission for a swift ruling before the 16 September deadline for filing nominations.

If the commission does not make a decision in time, both factions could find themselves in a chaotic position. Without formal clearance to use the Trinamool Congress name and symbol, candidates from both camps might be forced to run as independents.

A five-member delegation representing the Mamata Banerjee-led faction, including Derek O'Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, Sagarika Ghose, Saket Gokhale, and advocate Abhinav Singh, also presented their case to the poll panel on Saturday. Both sides claim to represent the "real" Trinamool, leaving the electoral authority to untangle the split that has upended West Bengal politics since the state elections.