Mamata's TMC faction opts out of Nandigram bypoll, to back Congress in rare move

The development marks a rare move, as the TMC and Congress have usually contested elections in West Bengal independently. 

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Former West Bengal chief minister and TMC founder Mamata Banerjee said on Friday that her faction had decided not to contest the Nandigram bypolls and would support the Congress candidate in the October 6 elections.

The development marks a rare move, as the TMC and Congress have usually contested elections in West Bengal independently despite being part of the INDIA alliance at the national level.

She said her camp would not field another nominee from Nandigram after announcing support for Congress candidate Milan Pradhan.

Banerjee said the decision was a message of solidarity with the INDIA alliance as the Opposition looks to put up a united fight against the BJP.

The announcement came hours after Sanchita Pradhan De, the Trinamool Congress candidate from Mamata Banerjee’s camp, withdrew her candidature with barely a month to go before the crucial bypoll.

During a press conference, Mamata said she spoke to Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha (LoP) and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday.

This came after the Election Commission's order barring the two rival TMC factions from using the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) name and its 'Jora Ghash Phul' (two flowers with grass) symbol in the upcoming bypolls, amid their dispute over the party's identity.

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