New Delhi: Questions surround former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s potential return to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, even as the Election Commission of India weighs rival claims over which faction constitutes the legitimate Trinamool Congress.

The Election Commission on Saturday granted additional time to both factions to substantiate their claims for the official party name and symbol. The dispute pits the original "Kalighat Trinamool" wing—named after Mamata Banerjee’s residence—against a splinter faction led by former Left leader Ritabrata Banerjee, now the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly.

The legal tussle comes ahead of critical by-elections for two West Bengal assembly seats scheduled for October 6. With the nomination deadline set for Wednesday, both groups are racing to secure official recognition before filing papers.

The upcoming bypolls were triggered by recent resignations in two constituencies:

  • Rejinagar: Vacated by controversial politician Humayun Kabir, who opted to retain his seat in Naoda after winning both.

  • Nandigram: Vacated by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who chose to retain Bhabanipur after defeating his former mentor, Mamata Banerjee, in a high-profile contest.

Kabir, who launched the Aam Janata Unnayan Party after being suspended from the Trinamool Congress over his controversial project to construct a Babri Masjid replica in Murshidabad’s Rejinagar, has publicly invited Mamata Banerjee to contest the vacated seat, offering his support to secure her victory.

Concurrently, the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction announced it will not field a candidate in Nandigram if Mamata Banerjee decides to run there. However, Ritabrata Banerjee noted critically that a victory would mean she once again depends on a by-election to re-enter the legislature—referencing her 2021 Nandigram loss, which required a subsequent bypoll win in Bhabanipur to retain the chief ministership.

Neither Mamata Banerjee nor her core camp has formally confirmed whether she will contest either seat.

Political analysts suggest that if the Ritabrata faction refrains from contesting Nandigram, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could gain a distinct advantage by consolidating anti-Mamata votes.

The development comes at a challenging juncture for the former Chief Minister’s faction, following recent electoral setbacks, high-profile defections to rival parties, and ongoing legal proceedings against senior leaders, including her nephew and party General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee. (IANS)