Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Sep 19: Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, the Mamata Banerjee-led faction's candidate for the Rejinagar Assembly bypoll, has reversed his decision to withdraw his nomination and said he will contest the election.
Chowdhury had announced his withdrawal earlier on Saturday, citing difficulties arising from the ongoing dispute over the Trinamool Congress' name and election symbol, as well as alleged pressure on party workers. He had said the new symbol could make it difficult for voters to identify his candidature within the short campaign period.
The veteran politician later changed his decision following discussions with the party leadership and said he would begin campaigning in the constituency from Saturday. Reports also indicated that Mamata Banerjee could campaign for him in Rejinagar.
Chowdhury had said that nobody had threatened or pressured him personally to withdraw his nomination, while alleging that workers supporting the Mamata-led faction were facing pressure while carrying out party activities.
The development came a day after Sanchita Pradhan Dey, the faction's candidate for the Nandigram Assembly bypoll, withdrew her nomination. Pradhan had met West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari before withdrawing from the contest.
The Election Commission had on Thursday directed the rival TMC factions not to use the original All India Trinamool Congress name and the 'Jora Ghash Phul' symbol for the upcoming bypolls, pending adjudication of their dispute.
On Friday, the Commission allotted the name 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' and the 'Football Player' symbol to the Mamata-led faction, while the rival faction was allotted 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' and the 'Envelope' symbol as an interim arrangement for the October 6 bypolls.
The Mamata-led faction has challenged the Election Commission's decision before the Supreme Court. The dispute concerns control of the party, its name and its traditional election symbol.
The Rejinagar and Nandigram Assembly bypolls are scheduled for October 6, with counting set for October 9.