Nandigram bypoll to take place soon, rebel TMC faction discusses party symbol

NEW DELHI: A five-member delegation of the rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) faction, led by West Bengal LoP Ritabrata Banerjee, on Saturday met officials at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in Delhi over the party’s claim to the TMC symbol. The delegation included Ritabrata Banerjee, Akhruzzaman, Arup Roy, Chandrima Bhattacharya and Riju Datta. After the meeting, Banerjee said the talks were “very fruitful” and that the panel had sought documents, which the faction would submit.

“We are hopeful because we are the TMC,” Banerjee said, adding that the faction was confident about its claim to the party symbol.

On the Nandigram bypoll, Banerjee said the faction had “more or less” decided its candidate but would withdraw it if Mamata Banerjee chose to contest as an independent. Rebel TMC chief whip Akhruzzaman said the faction would take a decision before September 16 and expressed confidence that the TMC symbol would work in its favour. “If she (Mamata Banerjee) stands up from Nandigram to fight the by-elections, we will not field a candidate against her,” she said. Banerjee also claimed that the faction wanted Mamata Banerjee to remain part of the West Bengal Assembly, despite its differences with her. "If, even after the announcement, Mamata Banerjee expresses a desire to fight as an independent, we will withdraw our candidate in our support," he said. Asked whether he was optimistic about securing the TMC symbol, Banerjee replied, “100%.”