West Bengal is heading towards by-elections in two assembly constituencies on October 6, with renewed speculation that former chief minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee could contest from the Rejinagar seat in Murshidabad.
The Election Commission has announced by-elections for Rejinagar and Nandigram after both seats were vacated by politicians who had won more than one constituency in the state’s latest assembly election. Voting will take place on October 6, while the results are scheduled to be announced on October 9.
The nomination process is set to begin on Wednesday, with candidates able to submit their papers until September 16.
The announcement has immediately revived discussion within political circles over whether Mamata Banerjee will use the Rejinagar contest as an opportunity to re-enter the state legislature.
Mamata is currently not a member of either the West Bengal Legislative Assembly or the Lok Sabha. Her possible return to electoral politics has therefore become a subject of considerable interest within the Trinamool Congress, particularly as the party considers how best to maintain her direct presence in the state’s political arena.
Rejinagar has emerged as a potential option because of its electoral composition and the political circumstances surrounding the vacant seat. The constituency has a substantial minority population and was previously won by Humayun Kabir of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party.
Kabir had secured 123,536 votes in the latest assembly election, defeating BJP candidate Bapan Ghosh, who received 64,660 votes. Kabir’s margin of victory was 58,876 votes.
After his victory, Kabir had publicly indicated that he would be willing to leave an assembly seat for Mamata Banerjee if she wanted to contest. His earlier statement has gained renewed attention following the Election Commission’s announcement of the by-election schedule.
However, there has been no confirmation from Mamata or the Trinamool Congress that she intends to contest Rejinagar.
The political significance of the possibility is heightened by Mamata’s defeat in the most recent assembly election. In the Bhabanipur constituency, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari defeated Mamata by 15,105 votes. Adhikari received 73,917 votes, while Mamata secured 58,812.
Adhikari also won Nandigram, defeating Trinamool candidate Pabitra Kar by 9,665 votes. Adhikari received 125,969 votes compared with Kar’s 116,737.
The results represented a major shift in West Bengal’s political landscape, with the BJP winning 208 of the 294 assembly seats, according to the source report.
Against this backdrop, a possible Mamata Banerjee candidacy in Rejinagar would carry significance beyond a single by-election. A successful return to the assembly could restore her direct legislative presence and provide the Trinamool Congress with an opportunity to project a renewed political challenge after a difficult electoral setback.
Rejinagar’s demographic profile is also being closely watched. The constituency is predominantly inhabited by minority communities, and political observers within the Trinamool Congress reportedly believe that Mamata could have a strong chance of winning if she chooses to contest there.
The prospect would also carry a personal political dimension for Mamata. Having served as West Bengal’s chief minister and one of India’s most prominent opposition leaders, remaining outside both the state legislature and Parliament would create an unusual situation for a politician who has remained at the centre of the state’s political discourse for decades.
For the Trinamool Congress, therefore, the Rejinagar by-election could potentially become an important test of Mamata’s political standing and the party’s ability to consolidate support in a changing electoral environment.
Yet, for now, the possibility remains speculation. Mamata has not publicly announced that she will contest the seat, and the Trinamool Congress has not formally confirmed her candidature.
The coming days are likely to provide a clearer picture as political parties prepare their candidates and the nomination process begins. Until then, Rejinagar remains at the centre of growing speculation over whether Mamata Banerjee is preparing to make an electoral comeback—and whether the Murshidabad constituency could become the stage for her return to the assembly.
A news by Alisha Pradhan, General Secretary, HerNet Foundation