New Delhi. Mamata Banerjee has suffered a setback before the Nandigram by-election. Mamata Banerjee's candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey has withdrawn her name. Sanchita had earlier gone to the State Secretariat and met Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari. After meeting the CM, Mamata's candidate has withdrawn his candidature. Now once again the political turmoil has intensified in the state. There is also a possibility that Sanchita is planning to leave Mamata Banerjee and join BJP. Whereas Mamata Banerjee has announced to support the Congress candidate. Due to this, new equations have now been created in the Nandigram by-election.
#WATCH | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee-led faction candidate from Nandigram Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) has withdrawn her nomination for the Nandigram Assembly constituency by-election.
(Video and pic: West Bengal CMO) pic.twitter.com/32HxXCY62y
— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2026
By-election is being held here due to CM Shubhendu Adhikari leaving Nandigram seat. The last date for nomination for candidates was 16 September. Voting will take place on October 6 while the result will be declared after counting of votes on October 9. Shubhendu Adhikari won from Nandigram twice consecutively. In 2021, Shubhendu defeated the then CM Mamata Banerjee from Nandigram. Shubhendu contested the 2026 assembly elections from Nandigram and Bhawanipur and won both the seats. He defeated Mamata Banerjee in Bhawanipur.
Congress has fielded Milan Pradhan as its candidate in Nandigram. Whereas BJP has declared Hasirani Rath as its candidate in Nandigram by-election. Hasirani is the mother of Subhendu Adhikari's PA Chandranath Rath who was murdered during the assembly elections. TMC rebel Ritabrata Banerjee has fielded Mohammad Eteshamul Haq. While Left's Shantigopal Giri is also in the election fray. Let us tell you that today the Election Commission has allotted different names and symbols to Mamata Banerjee and the rebel faction of TMC. Mamata faction has been allotted 'football player' as its symbol along with the name 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress'. The rebel group has got the name 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' and 'Envelope' election symbol.