The rebel TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee on Monday (September 14, 2026) named its candidates for the October 6 byelections to Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly seats, taking the electoral battle with the Mamata Banerjee-led camp to the next level amid an unresolved dispute over the party’s name, organisational control and election symbol.

Mohammad Eteshamul Haque will contest from Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district as the rebel TMC candidate, while Safiuzzaman Sheikh has been nominated from Rejinagar in Murshidabad.

The decision assumes significance as it is the first major electoral test for the rival faction since the TMC split following the party’s defeat in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.

The Ritabrata camp had earlier said it would not field a candidate from Nandigram if Mamata Banerjee herself contested the seat.

With Mamata Banerjee not entering the fray, the faction has now put up its nominee, setting the stage for a direct contest between the two TMC camps.

The Mamata-led faction had on Sunday (September 13, 2026) announced Sanchita Pradhan (Dey), a new face, as its candidate from Nandigram and former MLA Rabiul Alam Chowdhury from Rejinagar.

The rival nominations have transformed the bypolls into an unusual contest in which both factions will seek to establish themselves as the legitimate political successor of the TMC, even as the BJP looks to capitalise on the division within the opposition party.

The Election Commission has already heard representatives of the two camps over their competing claims to the TMC’s name, organisational machinery, assets and the ‘Jora Ghash Phool’ (twin flowers on grass) symbol.

The tussle between two camps of Trinamool Congress on Friday (July 3, 2026) manifested on the streets of Kolkata when a faction led by Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee occupied and locked the party headquarters located next to Eastern Metropolitan bypass.

Accompanied by a group of MLAs including Firhad Hakim, Sandipan Saha, Javed Khan, Akhruzzaman, Mr. Banerjee went to the party headquarters office.

“We are the real Trinamool. This is our office. Trinamool’s emotions are associated with this office,” Mr. Banerjee said. He added that he had a discussion with the owner on rent related issues.

Mamata loyalists

On receiving the information that the Ritabrata camp was trying to occupy the party office, loyalists of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee – MLA Kunal Ghosh and Baishwnar Chatterjee – arrived at the office to stake claim.

Mr. Chatterjee told presspersons that they have a rent agreement till October 2027 and the party office belongs to them. “There is no party without Mamata Banerjee and it is her office. I don’t know at whose behest they (the rival faction) are doing this. We will fight it in accordance with law,” he said.

“With the direct support of the government and the police, an expelled person has become the B team of the BJP (referring to Ritabrata Banerjee),” Mr. Ghosh said.

Meanwhile, the rebels put a banner with a photo of their newly elected chairperson Arup Roy at the building. A banner with Mamata Banerjee’s photograph and the name of the party also remains hung at the building.

The development comes a day after Ritabrata Banerjee and other MLAs belonging to his camp met the full bench of Election Commission (EC) in Delhi and staked claim for the party. The EC has written to both Trinamool camps, led by Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee, seeking responses regarding “claims and counter claims” made by them with respect to organisational elections and authorised signatories.

Mr. Banerjee was elected as Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly on June 3, with the support of 58 MLAs. The rebel camp now claims the support of 65 of 80 MLAs.

The owner of the Trinamool Metropolitan party office, as it is referred to, is owned by Monotosh Saha, whose company was given the contract of setting up stage for the party during election campaign. However, after the assembly polls the relationship between the owner and the Trinamool changed and he started demanding the property back from the party.