States » EastPosted at: Sep 18 2026 10:40PM


Mamata's announces support to Congress in Nandigram after her candidate withdraws candidate withdraws

Kolkata, Sept 18 (UNI) Hours after her party's candidate for Nandigram Assembly bypoll met Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and withdrew from the race, Mamata Banerjee on Friday said the MAITC would back the Congress for the seat to strengthen the INDIA bloc.
The development came on a day the Election Commission of India (ECI) allotted new names and symbols to the rival factions of the Trinamul Congress. Banerjee's faction was named Mamata All India Trinamul Congress (MAITC) and allotted the "football player" symbol, while the rival group led by Arup Roy was christened Democratic Trinamul Congress and handed the "envelope" symbol for the upcoming 6 October bypolls.
The Congress has nominated Milan Pradhan for the Nandigram seat.
The last date for filing nomination for the two seats was September 16.
On Thursday, the ECI froze the original All India Trinamool Congress name and its reserved "Flowers and Grass" symbol for the upcoming bypolls.
The immediate trigger for the Nandigram development was the withdrawal of nomination by Mamata's candidate, Sanchita Pradhan Dey. She called on the chief minister at the state secretariat Nabanna before returning to Haldia, where she withdrew her nomination.
Later, speaking at her Kalighat residence, former chief minister Banerjee said her faction would support the Congress candidate in Nandigram in the "larger interest" of the country and to strengthen the INDIA bloc.
"Nandigram will not be contested by us. We are supporting our sister party, Congress. This will strengthen the INDIA alliance," she said.
Banerjed also indicated that a decision on the Rejinagar Assembly constituency would be taken later, leaving open the possibility of a similar understanding there.
She said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had called her on Thursday and added that the opposition parties were together and would fight collectively. "We will support all natural alliances. We will support our sister party," she said.
The development marks another interesting turn in the relationship between Banerjee and Congress. Banerjee had left the Congress and subsequently built the Trinamul Congress in 1998 as a separate political force. After years of contesting elections independently, she joined hands with Congress in 2001, but the alliance failed to dislodge the then ruling Left Front in the state.
She again teamed up with the Grand Old Party in 2009, and became a minister in the Congress-headed government at the Centre. Two years later, the alliance , managed to bring to an end the LF's 34-year rule in Bengal and Banerjee became the chief minister.
However, the two parties' tie-ups in both the Centre and the state crumbled in 2012. Since then, there has been prolonged political rivalry between the two parties in the state.
UNI RC SSP CDS
Tags: #Mamata's announces support to Congress in Nandigram after her candidate withdraws candidate withdraws
More News

Low-pressure area likely to bring heavy rain to parts of South Bengal

19 Sep 2026 | 12:10 AM

Kolkata, Sep 18 (UNI) A brewing low-pressure area over Thailand is anticipated to bring heavy rainfall over parts of South Bengal in the next three to four days.

see more..

Kolkata Municipal Corporation fixes two-week window for Durga Puja advertisement hoardings

19 Sep 2026 | 12:07 AM

Kolkata, Sep 18 (UNI) Announcing a set of rules for Durga Puja organisers, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has fixed a two-week window for putting up advertisement hoardings in the city.

see more..

Landslides disrupt roads across Sikkim, Nepal and Bhutan; Lachung drivers lead cleanliness drive

19 Sep 2026 | 12:03 AM

Gangtok, Sep 18 (UNI) Heavy rain over the past two days triggered landslides and road disruptions across Sikkim, Nepal and Bhutan, affecting several key routes and disrupting traffic.

see more..

Rinpoche calls for peace and harmony

18 Sep 2026 | 11:45 PM

Siliguri, Sep 18 (UNI) Renowned Buddhist teacher Tulku Thamthog Rinpoche on Friday expressed concern over the unrest, tension and conflict s prevailing in different parts of the world and called for concerted efforts to establish peace and harmony.

see more..

Kolkata's iconic Howrah Bridge undergoes illumination makeover worth Rs 22 35 cr

18 Sep 2026 | 11:34 PM

Kolkata, Sep 18 (UNI) The iconic Howrah Bridge has undergone an illumination makeover worth Rs 22.35 crore under a public-private partnership by the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port.

see more..