Mamata’s Rejinagar bypoll candidate announces withdrawal from contest, retracts later
Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, a former TMC MLA, told reporters in his Murshidabad home earlier in the day, “It is becoming difficult for me to motivate grassroots workers who have been facing regular harassment.”
In a sudden shift, the candidate for Mamata Banerjee's party in the Rejinagar bypoll, Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, announced his withdrawal from the election on September 19, 2026. However, less than two hours later, he retracted his statement and confirmed his intention to contest the October 6 poll as per the wishes of the party leader.
Chowdhury, a former TMC MLA, cited difficulties in motivating workers facing harassment and the challenge of explaining the party's new symbol to voters. He expressed gratitude for assurances of police security following Banerjee's intervention. Meanwhile, in Nandigram, Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew her nomination after meeting Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, though the reasons for her decision were unclear.
The Election Commission had assigned the footballer symbol to Banerjee's faction, while the rival group received the envelope symbol. Banerjee's party also backed Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, despite Pradhan's subsequent arrest in connection with 2007 anti-land acquisition movement cases.
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- Another setback for Mamata Banerjee as her Rejinagar bypolls pick withdraws timesofindia.indiatimes.com
