The Nandigram bypoll 2026 saw a major political development on Friday, September 18, after Sanchita Pradhan Dey, the candidate fielded by the Mamata Banerjee-led faction, withdrew her nomination just one day before the deadline. The withdrawal leaves the Mamata camp without a candidate in Nandigram for the October 6 by-election.Soon after the withdrawal, Mamata Banerjee said her camp would support Congress in the Nandigram bypoll to strengthen the INDIA bloc. The move changes the contest in the constituency ahead of polling.Why did Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdraw her nomination?Sanchita Pradhan Dey, a teacher, had been announced as the Mamata camp's candidate for Nandigram earlier this week. She filed her nomination for the bypoll but withdrew it on Friday, September 18.Before withdrawing her papers, Pradhan Dey met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna, the state secretariat in Kolkata, accompanied by her husband Satyajit. She later withdrew her nomination, according to reports.The publicly reported sequence does not establish a specific reason given by Pradhan Dey for withdrawing her nomination.What happened with the TMC name and symbol?The Nandigram election Congress support announcement came hours after the Election Commission changed the immediate electoral identities of the rival TMC factions.On September 17, the Election Commission barred both factions from using the All India Trinamool Congress name and the reserved Flowers and Grass symbol for the upcoming bypolls. The decision was described as an interim arrangement while the dispute over the party's identity remains unresolved.Both factions were asked to submit choices for new party names and free symbols. The new arrangement applies to the upcoming bypolls.When will the Nandigram bypoll take place?The Nandigram bypoll 2026 will be held on October 6, 2026. Vote counting is scheduled for October 9. The by-election became necessary after Suvendu Adhikari vacated the Nandigram seat while retaining Bhabanipur following the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.“We will support Congress in Nandigram bypoll to strengthen INDIA bloc,” Mamata Banerjee said, according to reports.The Mamata Banerjee Congress support decision means the Mamata camp will not field its own candidate in Nandigram, while the election process continues toward the October 6 polling date. Also Read : ECI Freezes TMC Party Symbol and Name Ahead of Bengal Bypolls
