Trinamool Congress unveils candidates for West Bengal bypolls

The party fielded Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) from the Nandigram assembly segment and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury from Rejinagar, according to the announcement made by the Trinamool Congress leadership. The decision clarifies that Banerjee, who has represented Nandigram since 2011, will not be contesting the bypolls herself.

The Nandigram seat was vacated following the resignation of Suvendu Adhikari, the incumbent legislator who switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party last year. Rejinagar became vacant after the death of sitting MLA Sankar Chatterjee, a long-time Trinamool Congress member.

Trinamool Congress insiders had remained silent for weeks regarding whether Banerjee would seek re-election from Nandigram, triggering widespread conjecture among political observers. The party's formal candidate announcement brings clarity to the electoral calculations ahead of the bypolls, which are expected to serve as a barometer of public sentiment in the state ahead of future assembly elections.

The selections reflect the party's strategy to mobilize its grassroots support in these constituencies while maintaining continuity in representation. Both candidates are seasoned party functionaries with established presence in their respective assembly segments, the party stated.