Mamata Banerjee Bengal By-Elections Contention Speculation

22 UPDATES · 23 DAYS · 7 SEPT 2026 — 30 SEPT 2026

Rahul GandhiMamata BanerjeeWest BengalTMCTrinamoolCongressIndia AllianceDelhi

Latest · 30 Sept 2026

Mamata Banerjee arrived in Delhi to attend an INDIA Bloc meeting, where she met Rahul Gandhi and accused the Chief Election Commissioner's team of cheating voters.

What this timeline covers

This event covers the announcement by the Election Commission for by-polls in West Bengal's Rejinagar and Nandigram constituencies following the vacating of seats by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and AJUP founder Humayun Kabir, including any reactions, analyses, and follow-up developments related to these by-polls. It excludes other actions or events involving Suvendu Adhikari, Humayun Kabir, or the Election Commission unless they are direct developments or consequences of the by-poll announcement and scheduling.

The full story, from the beginning

7Sept

STORY BEGINS — NDTV

The Election Commission scheduled by-elections for Rejinagar and Nandigram constituencies on October 6th following the vacating of seats by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Humayun Kabir.

9Sept

NDTV

Speculation surrounds whether Mamata Banerjee will contest the upcoming Bengal by-elections, with potential alliances and competing factions emerging.

12Sept

NDTV

Mamata Banerjee is considering contesting the Nandigram by-election, prompting a rebel faction to announce they will not field a candidate if she does.

13Sept

The Hindu

The Election Commission of India extended the deadline for Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee to submit supporting documents for the Trinamool Congress's election symbol.

NDTV

The Election Commission granted Mamata Banerjee until Wednesday at 3 pm to submit additional evidence in a dispute over the Trinamool Congress's 'jora phool' symbol.

NDTV

The All India Trinamool Congress named Sanchita Pradhan for Nandigram and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury for Rejinagar in upcoming West Bengal by-elections.

14Sept

The Hindu

The Trinamool Congress named candidates for the Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls, with Mamata Banerjee's faction fielding Sanchita Pradhan and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury.

The Hindu

A Ritabrata Banerjee-led TMC faction named Mohammad Eteshamul Haque and Safiuzzaman Sheikh as candidates for the Nandigram and Rejinagar byelections, escalating a dispute with the Mamata Banerjee-led faction.

15Sept

NDTV

The Congress rejected Mamata Banerjee's proposed alliance for the upcoming Bengal bypolls, citing potential symbol disputes.

17Sept

The Hindu

The Election Commission of India barred both factions of the Trinamool Congress from using their party name and symbol in upcoming byelections.

18Sept

NDTV

The Election Commission granted separate names and symbols to rival factions of the Trinamool Congress for upcoming Bengal bypolls.

NDTV

Two Trinamool factions, led by Mamata Banerjee and Arup Roy, submitted distinct names and symbols for the Bengal bypolls.

The Hindu

The Election Commission of India allotted new names and symbols to two factions of the Trinamool Congress, one for Mamata Banerjee's faction and another for Ritabrata Banerjee's.

NDTV

Following the withdrawal of their candidate, Mamata Banerjee's faction of the Trinamool Congress endorsed the Congress nominee Milan Pradhan for the Nandigram bypoll.

NDTV

Mamata Banerjee's faction of the Trinamool Congress lost its party symbol and logo for the Nandigram bypoll, leading to a candidate withdrawal and a shift in support to the Congress.

NDTV

The Election Commission has locked the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) symbol after a split between factions led by Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Arup Roy-Ritabrata Banerjee.

19Sept

The Hindu

The Election Commission of India approved new symbols and names for the Trinamool Congress factions, resolving a freeze on the original party name and symbol.

The Hindu

On September 18, 2026, Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress faction petitioned the Supreme Court against the ECI's decision to freeze their party symbol and allocate new names and symbols.

NDTV

Mamata Banerjee's support for the Congress candidate in the Nandigram by-election revives speculation about a potential alliance between the two parties.

20Sept

NDTV

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma criticized Mamata Banerjee after the Election Commission allotted a new football player symbol to her faction for the upcoming October 6 bypolls.

26Sept

The Hindu

Hasirani Rath and Milan Pradhan contest the Nandigram bypoll while Golam Nabi Azad and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury face off in the Rejinagar bypoll in West Bengal.

30Sept

LATEST UPDATE — The Hindu

Mamata Banerjee arrived in Delhi to attend an INDIA Bloc meeting, where she met Rahul Gandhi and accused the Chief Election Commissioner's team of cheating voters.

Awaiting next development