The upcoming bypolls on October 6 in West Bengal will test the practical impact of the tactical cooperation between the Congress and the Mamata Banerjee faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). In Nandigram, the Mamata faction’s candidate withdrew after meeting with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, leaving Banerjee without a candidate. She subsequently announced support for the Congress nominee Milan Pradhan, citing the need to strengthen the INDIA bloc.
The Nandigram contest is particularly significant for Banerjee, whose political rise was rooted in anti‑land acquisition movements in the constituency and its neighbour Singur. After the 2021 assembly elections, she lost to Adhikari, and the TMC-Congress alliance that had ended the Left Front’s 34‑year rule in 2011 has since been fractured. The bypolls therefore raise questions about Banerjee’s legacy, the future of her faction, and the broader opposition equation.
Senior Congress leaders have expressed mixed views on the alliance. While some, like Pradip Bhattacharya, argue that the TMC’s proposal reflects desperation and that the party should rebuild its own organisation, others see tactical cooperation as a way to consolidate anti‑BJP and minority votes in constituencies with overlapping support bases. The debate reflects the Congress’s dilemma after losing many MLAs to the TMC over 15 years.
In Rejinagar, the Congress and Banerjee’s faction contest separately, turning the seat into a test of each party’s independent electoral strength. The results, expected on October 9, may not resolve the alliance question but could shape future discussions on whether the parties will pursue a working accommodation, continued rivalry, or an uneasy combination of both.
