Team Mamata's Rejinagar candidate's big U-turn, now says he'll contest bypolls

Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, the Team Mamata candidate, who earlier had withdrawn his nomination from the Rejinagar seat, is now back in the poll race.

In Short

• Rabiul Alam Chowdhury is back in the Rejinagar poll race
• He withdrew his nomination from the seat nearly three hours ago
• He said that he took the decision after talking to Mamata Banerjee

Nearly three hours after withdrawing his nomination, Team Mamata’s Rejinagar Assembly bypoll pick Rabiul Alam Chowdhury is back in the election race, saying he will contest the seat.

His decision to step aside had followed a conversation with Mamata Banerjee. Chowdhury cited the ongoing legal battle over the TMC’s name and symbol, along with alleged intimidation of cadre loyal to the Mamata-led faction, among the factors behind his move.

“The symbol is new. It will be difficult for the voters to identify the new symbol and vote for me," Chowdhury said. He added, “That’s why I’ve decided to withdraw. I have spoken to Mamata Banerjee, and she has told me to do what is best.”

Chowdhury also said that no one had threatened or pressured him to withdraw his nomination from the seat. However, he acknowledged that Team Mamata workers were being threatened on the ground while carrying out party work.

After reversing his decision, the veteran politician said that he would start campaigning in the constituency from Saturday. According to a report by The Telegraph, Chowdhury also indicated that Mamata Banerjee may visit the constituency to campaign for him.

Meanwhile, sources from the Mamata faction told India Today that Chowdhury would contest the election on the temporary 'football player' symbol that has been allotted to the faction.

The dramatic turn of events came on Saturday, a day after Sanchita Pradhan Dey, the Team Mamata pick for the Nandigram Assembly constituency, withdrew from the bypoll. Pradhan met Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and then withdrew her name from the upcoming poll battle.

BIG BENGAL BYPOLL BLOWUP

The drama unfolded last evening when Sanchita Pradhan Dey decided to withdraw her candidature from the crucial Nandigram poll.

The development came hours after Dey met Suvendu Adhikari. Although the meeting was initially described as a courtesy meeting, political circles started attaching significance to it after Dey decided to withdraw her nomination.

The drama did not end there.

As Mamata Banerjee’s pick left the battlefield, Banerjee announced that her faction would back Congress candidate Milan Pradhan in the poll. As political speculation started springing up over a possible TMC-Congress understanding, West Bengal Police arrested Pradhan in connection with a 19-year-old murder case.

The arrest sparked a major political flashpoint, as both Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee slammed the BJP. While Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of “murdering democracy”, Mamata Banerjee questioned the timing of the arrest.

However, the BJP hit back at both of them, saying the cases registered against Pradhan involve charges of murder and offences under the Arms Act.

EC'S ORDER ON TRINAMOOL'S NAME AND SYMBOL

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday allotted interim names and electoral symbols to both factions of the party. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction was allotted the football player symbol and the new name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress, while the Arup Roy-led faction was allotted the envelope symbol and the name Democratic Trinamool Congress.

The development came a day after the Election Commission froze the party’s name and its Ghasher Opor Joraphul (Two Flowers on the Grass) symbol following a prolonged dispute between the two factions. The party had been using the name and symbol since its inception in 1998.

The poll body also asked both factions to suggest three names and electoral symbols that could be considered for future use.

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee has moved to the Supreme Court over ECI's decision.

- Ends
(With inputs from PTI)