Mamata Reaches Out to TMC Veteran Akhil Giri as Party Weighs Local Face for Nandigram Bypoll

The Trinamool Congress is weighing former minister and veteran leader Akhil Giri as a possible local face for the Nandigram Assembly bypoll, as party chief Mamata Banerjee looks to mount a serious challenge to the BJP in one of Bengal’s most politically charged constituencies.

The bypoll, scheduled for October 6, has assumed added importance for the TMC because of Nandigram’s history with both Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari. The BJP’s Adhikari had defeated Banerjee in Nandigram in the 2021 Assembly election and went on to emerge as one of her principal political rivals.

Akhil Giri's name gains traction

Giri, a long-time TMC leader from neighbouring Ramnagar, is among the names being discussed as the party searches for a candidate with a strong local organisational base.

The former minister contested from Ramnagar in the 2026 Assembly election but lost to BJP's Chandra Sekhar Mondal. The BJP secured 53.83 per cent of the vote there, while Giri polled 42.83 per cent.

A report on the Nandigram bypoll said political circles were considering Giri as a possible TMC candidate, while the party's Mamata Banerjee-led camp is expected to announce its nominees shortly. The party has sought names from its district units and is looking at local faces for the bypolls.

Why Nandigram matters so much

Nandigram is much more than an ordinary Assembly seat for the TMC.

The constituency became synonymous with the anti-land-acquisition movement of 2007, which played a major role in the political decline of the Left Front and the subsequent rise of Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress.

In 2021, Banerjee herself contested Nandigram against her former close aide Suvendu Adhikari. Adhikari, who had switched to the BJP, defeated her by 1,956 votes, turning the constituency into the site of one of the most significant electoral setbacks of Banerjee's political career.

The contest acquired a fresh dimension in the 2026 Assembly election. Adhikari won both Nandigram and Bhabanipur, but subsequently chose to retain Bhabanipur and vacated Nandigram, triggering the bypoll.

TMC also faces an internal symbol battle

The candidate-selection exercise is taking place against the backdrop of an internal dispute within the Trinamool Congress.

A rebel faction led by Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee is challenging Mamata Banerjee's camp over the party's name, election symbol and organisational control. The Election Commission is examining claims from both sides.

The rebel camp has even said it would not field a candidate in Nandigram if Mamata Banerjee herself contests the bypoll. That has added another layer of speculation over whether Banerjee could make a return to the constituency where she suffered her 2021 defeat.

However, the current indications are that the TMC is also seriously considering a local candidate rather than another direct Mamata-Suvendu face-off.

Poll schedule

The Election Commission has fixed October 6 for voting in Nandigram and Rejinagar, with counting scheduled for October 9. The last date for filing nominations is September 16.

The BJP is also yet to formally settle its candidate for Nandigram, although names including Anjan Bharti and Meghnad Pal have been discussed. The party will be looking to build on Adhikari's political influence in the constituency.

For Mamata Banerjee, the choice of candidate will therefore be closely watched. Akhil Giri's possible entry would give the TMC a seasoned regional politician with familiarity with Purba Medinipur's political landscape, while allowing the party to frame the contest as a broader organisational fight rather than simply another personal battle between Mamata and Suvendu.

At this stage, however, Giri's candidature has not been officially announced. The TMC is expected to make its final decision before the nomination deadline.