- By Aditya Jha
- Thu, 10 Sep 2026 01:16 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Mamata Banerjee likely to contest October 6 by-elections.
- Nandigram considered key seat for her potential comeback.
- TMC exploring alliance with Congress for opposition unity.
Nandigram Bypolls: Mamata Banerjee, former West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief, is likely to contest in the coming by-elections scheduled to be held on October 6. The bypolls in Bengal will be held in two assembly constituencies- Rejinagar, vacated by Humayun Kabir, and Nandigram, vacated by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari after retaining Bhabanipur.
Will Mamata Banerjee Contest?
As per the reports, the TMC leaders believe that Banerjee's decision to contest the by polls could benefit the party amid the rising influence of BJP. Her presence in the assembly could give a boost to the weakened opposition and keep the party united in the testing time. Banerjee could also play the role of leader of the opposition in the Bengal Assembly if she gets elected in the coming polls.
There is no clarity on the seat from where Banerjee could contest, but Nandigram could be a relatively safe bet for the TMC chief. Earlier in the 2021 assembly election, Banerjee lost to Suvendu Adhikari by a close margin of 1,956 votes in Nandigram. The TMC chief can also announce her comeback if she manages to register victory in Nandigram, a stronghold of Adhikari.
TMC Is Exploring Options
Apart from this, Banerjee can also decide to contest from Rejinagar, a constituency located in the Murshidabad district and with a 65 per cent Muslim population. However, the party leaders believe that Congress should be given this seat, considering the past records.
The party leaders have also suggested contesting these polls in alliance with Congress to ensure consolidation of the opposition votes. Apart from this, reports also suggest that State Congress president Subhankar Sarkar may contest from the Nandigram constituency.
The by polls are being considered crucial, as it will be the first major election following the humiliating defeat of the Trinamool in the 2026 assembly polls. However, Mamata Banerjee has not made any public announcement whether she will contest or not.