KOLKATA — Amid dramatic political shifts ahead of the October 6 byelections, Mamata Banerjee announced that her faction will endorse Congress nominee Milan Pradhan in the high-profile Nandigram assembly constituency.
The decision comes after her designated candidate, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, met with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday night and subsequently pulled out of the race on Friday, leaving no window for a fresh nomination.
Key Political & Electoral Highlights
-
Surprise Exit: Faction candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey officially withdrew from the Nandigram race following a meeting with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, leaving the seat open.
-
Alliance Pivot: With nominations closed, Mamata Banerjee declared external support for Congress candidate Milan Pradhan to challenge BJP’s Hasirani Rath and the Ritabrata Banerjee-led TMC faction candidate Ehteshamul Haq.
-
Symbol Freeze: The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued an order freezing the official Trinamool Congress name and party symbol, restricting both contesting factions from using them during the bypolls.
-
National Alignment: Congress leadership at the national level, led by Rahul Gandhi, expressed backing for Mamata Banerjee against the symbol freeze, even as state-level Congress leaders emphasized their distinct party identity.
