Kolkata, Sept. 18 -- In a significant political development ahead of the upcoming bypolls, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced that her TMC faction will extend support to the Congress in Nandigram, asserting that the decision has been taken for the "greater interest of the nation".

Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) from Mamata's TMC faction withdrew her nomination from the Nandigram Assembly constituency by-election, leaving the faction without a candidate in the seat ahead of the October 6 polling.

Congress has fielded Milan Pradhan from Nandigram, while the CPI has nominated Shanti Gopal Giri. The BJP's candidate, Hasirani Rath, is also in the fray.

Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Banerjee said, "In N...