TMC’s Rejinagar Hopeful Swings Back: Candidate Says He’ll Run Under a New Symbol

West Bengal’s political theatre got another twist on Saturday. Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, the candidate fielded by Mamata Banerjee’s faction of the Trinamool Congress for the Rejinagar assembly by‑poll, announced a sudden withdrawal of his nomination – only to reverse course minutes later, saying he would still go to the voters, albeit with a different party symbol.

Chowdhury’s brief exit was first reported early Saturday morning. He told reporters he was stepping back after discussions within the party, hinting that a decision on a “new symbol” was pending. A few hours later, perhaps after a quick huddle with senior leaders, he added, “I am not doing anything beyond the instructions of Mamata Banerjee. Earlier I thought we would decide on a new symbol and other matters. Now I will go to the people with a new symbol.”

The back‑and‑forth mirrors a similar episode in Nandigram, where Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) withdrew her nomination on Friday after meeting West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari at the Nabanna secretariat. Following Pradhan’s pull‑out, Banerjee announced that her faction would not contest Nandigram at all, throwing its weight behind Congress candidate Milan Pradhan.

Both Rejinagar and Nandigram are slated for by‑polls on October 6, with vote counting set for October 9. In Rejinagar, the Congress has put forward Mohd. Abdullahil Kafi, while the CPI(M) fields advocate Sayeed Asad Ali. The seat became vacant after Aam Janata Unnayan Party founder Humayun Kabir resigned.

The episode unfolds against a backdrop of an ongoing split within the Trinamool Congress. The Election Commission of India, after freezing the original party name “All India Trinamool Congress” and its “Flowers & Grass” emblem, allotted fresh identifiers: Banerjee’s camp now runs as “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” with the “Football Players” symbol, whereas the rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee operates under “Democratic Trinamool Congress” with an “Envelope” symbol.

While the exact appearance of the new emblem Chowdhury will contest under remains under wraps, the message from the Mamata‑led camp is clear – they are not abandoning Rejinagar, even if strategic adjustments are needed. Voters in the Murshidabad district will get to see how the “new symbol” gamble plays out on the ballot box.