Kolkata, Sept. 16 -- The Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls have seen rival Trinamool factions file nominations amid an unresolved dispute over the party's name and twin-flower symbol.

With nominations closing on Wednesday, 12 candidates are in the fray in Nandigram and 15 in Rejinagar. The two rival TMC factions are awaiting the EC's decision on the party name and symbol, with both scheduled to appear before the commission on Thursday. The Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction will be heard at 3 pm and the Mamata Banerjee-led faction at 4 pm. Both have fielded candidates in Nandigram.

EC is planning to deploy around 100 companies of CAPF for the October 6 bypolls, against the 71 companies proposed initially. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Electoral Officer Neelam Meena with central forces and the state police nodal officer.

Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, the Rejinagar candidate of the Mamata Banerjee-led camp, was the first to file his nomination on Tuesday and later met Banerjee at her residence. Sanchita Pradhan De filed her Nandigram nomination on Wednesday, accompanied by former minister Akhil Giri. She acknowledged the challenge but said she would fight with "all her strength".

The Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction also fielded candidates in both seats, with Safiuzzaman Sheikh filing his Rejinagar nomination in the presence of senior leaders, including former minister Firhad Hakim. The rival camp also took control of the TMC office in Berhampore ahead of the nomination programme.

Trinamool MLA Kunal Ghosh backed the Mamata camp's candidates, saying the TMC means Mamata Banerjee despite the symbol dispute. He also said Banerjee was unlikely to campaign personally, noting that she usually does not campaign in bypolls.

Meanwhile, rebel faction chief whip Akhruzamman said he would issue a show-cause notice to TMC MLA Shobhandeb Chatterjee, who has approached the Supreme Court seeking disqualification of 10 rebel MLAs, including Ritabrata, who termed the petition erroneous and lacking legal value.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.