Rebel Trinamool faction announces candidates for Bengal bypolls in Nandigram, Rejinagar

Kolkata: The "rebel but majority" faction in Trinamool Congress led by the expelled party legislator Ritabrata Banerjee on Monday announced the names of the candidates for the bypolls for Nandigram Assembly constituency in East Midnapore district and Rejinagar Assembly constituency in Murshidabad district of West Bengal.

The faction had named persons from the minority community as candidates both from Nandigram and Rejinagar.

While Ehtasamul Haque is the candidate from Nandigram, Shafiuzzaman Sheikh is the candidate for Rejinagar.

The announcement of the candidates' names for the two Assembly constituencies in West Bengal by the Ritabrata-led faction, comes just a day after the "original but minority" faction in Trinamool Congress led by the former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday announced the names of its candidates for these two Assembly constituencies.

Now, the names of the respective candidates by both these factions within the previous ruling party in West Bengal have been announced despite the Election Commission of India (ECI) yet to decide which of these two factions will ultimately have the right over the party's name and symbol.

The last date for filing nominations for the Rejinagar and Nandigram bypolls is September 16.

The polls will be conducted on October 6 and the results will be announced on November 9.

Already, the CPI-M-led Left Front and Congress have announced the names of the candidates for both these Assembly constituencies.

At Rejinagar, the Revolutionary Social Party (RSP), which is a constituent of the Left Front, had independently fielded its own candidate declaring rebellion against the CPI-M leadership.

Even Humayun Kabir-led Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) also announced its candidate from Rejinagar.

Kabir's son Golam Nabi Azad is the AJUP candidate for the Rejinagar Assembly bypoll.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to announce the names of its candidates either on Monday or Tuesday.

In the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this year, current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari was elected from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur Assembly constituencies in South Kolkata.

At Bhabanipur, Suvendu Adhikari defeated his predecessor and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by a margin of more than 15,000 votes.

Adhikari retained the Bhabanipur constituency, thus necessitating bypolls for Nandigram.

On the other hand, former Trinamool Congress legislator Humayun Kabir contested and was elected as an Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) candidate from Naoda and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies, both in Murshidabad district.

Later, Humayun Kabir decided to retain Naoda, thus necessitating bypolls for the Rejinagar seat.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

IANS

[email protected]