# Mamata camp candidate quits Nandigram bypoll, party backs Congress 2026-09-18T12:16:38+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 6 independent outlets Sanchita Pradhan Dey, the candidate fielded by the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress for the Nandigram bypoll, withdrew her nomination on Friday, a day before the deadline. Her decision came after she met West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at the state secretariat in Kolkata, the Times of India reports. The withdrawal followed the Election Commission's interim order freezing the use of the All India Trinamool Congress name and its 'Jora Ghash Phul' symbol for the October 6 bypolls. The EC then allotted the Mamata faction the name 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' and a football player symbol, while the rival group led by Ritabrata Banerjee received 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' and an envelope symbol. After the withdrawal, Mamata Banerjee announced her faction would not field another candidate and would instead support the Congress candidate in Nandigram and in Assam, calling it a message of solidarity with the INDIA alliance. The bypoll was necessitated after Adhikari vacated the seat he won in the April assembly elections. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Pro-government sources, like Times of India, frame the withdrawal as a significant blow to Mamata Banerjee and focus on her meeting with CM Suvendu Adhikari. Government-critical sources, such as India Today and Hindustan Times, emphasise Mamata's subsequent move to back the Congress candidate as a show of INDIA bloc solidarity and highlight her criticism of the Election Commission's decision as 'unconstitutional, illegal, undemocratic'. The coverage diverges sharply on whether the candidate's exit is primarily a result of internal party weakness or a strategic opposition realignment. The Nandigram bypoll on October 6 will test the strength of the fledgling INDIA alliance in West Bengal. The Economic Times adds a layer by reporting that Mamata announced she would give support to Congress in Assam and Nandigram in the greater interest of the nation, while NDTV frames the story as Mamata pulling a 'Congress surprise' after her candidate abandoned her. ## Coverage - timesnownews.com (sensationalist) Leads with 'amid TMC name and symbol change' linking withdrawal to Suvendu Adhikari meeting - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (government critical) Frames withdrawal as 'significant blow', highlights Mamata's solidarity with INDIA bloc - economictimes.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Presents facts of withdrawal, EC allocation, and Mamata's announcement without editorialising - indiatoday.in (neutral report) Focuses on timeline of meeting and withdrawal, includes BJP candidate details - indiatoday.in (neutral report) Focuses on timeline of meeting and withdrawal, includes BJP candidate details - hindustantimes.com (neutral report) Reports withdrawal and EC name/symbol assignment without strong framing - hindustantimes.com (neutral report) Reports withdrawal and EC name/symbol assignment without strong framing - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (government critical) Frames withdrawal as 'significant blow', highlights Mamata's solidarity with INDIA bloc - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (government critical) Frames withdrawal as 'significant blow', highlights Mamata's solidarity with INDIA bloc - ndtv.com (sensationalist) Uses dramatic language 'abandons her' and 'pulls a Congress surprise' Tags: Congress, Election Commission, Mamata Banerjee, Nandigram, Suvendu Adhikari, Trinamool Congress Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/mamata-camp-candidate-quits-nandigram-bypoll-after-meeting-cm/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/mamata-camp-candidate-quits-nandigram-bypoll-after-meeting-cm/#story-in-brief