- Despite being united at the national level, Congress and Trinamool Congress will face each other in the West Bengal by-elections.
- After internal split in Trinamool Congress, Election Commission hearing on claim of party name and 'grass-flower' symbol
- Though BJP's supremacy in Nandigram remains, Congress-Left Alliance, BJP and Trinamool in Rajnagar is a tight three-way fight.
West Bengal Politics: Congress and Trinamool contested the previous general assembly elections separately. While the Congress formed an alliance with the Left parties, the Trinamool contested the election on its own. Trinamool has not yet clarified its role in this by-election. They have not announced their candidates. However, political circles believe that the Trinamool will definitely field candidates on both the seats. Interestingly, at the national level, the Congress and the Trinamool India are together in an alliance.
In Bengal, the Trinamool has been steadily trying to move closer to the Congress for some time now. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been seen standing with the Trinamool on several occasions. From Parliament to the streets, the two parties have grown closer. However, the speed with which the Congress has announced its two candidates for the Bengal by-elections clearly shows that the Trinamool and the Congress will contest the by-elections separately, just like the general elections. Congress is not ready to compromise on strengthening its organization.
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The split in the Trinamool changed the equation
The by-election is taking place at a time when the Trinamool seems to be divided into two factions. A hearing is underway in the Election Commission regarding the claim on the party's name and election symbol 'Ghas Phul Manhi Jodi'. There is talk in political circles that the Congress-Left alliance is looking to exploit this split. Nandigram has been a BJP stronghold since 2021, so the BJP's position there is strong, while the fight in Reginagar is likely to be more intense and three-cornered.
Both seats are vacant due to two resignations
The seat of Nandigram has fallen vacant due to the resignation of BJP leader and Chief Minister Survedu Adhikari. In the assembly elections, Adhikari contested from two seats namely Nandigram and Bhawanipur and won both the seats. In Bhawanipur, he defeated Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee by more than 15,000 votes. Consequently, he retained the seat of Bhawanipur and resigned from Nandigram. The Rajnagar seat has fallen vacant due to the resignation of Aam Janata Unnayan Party founder Humayun Kabir. Kabir had won both Rajnagar and Nawda seats and retained the Nawda seat thereafter.
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