# Mamata Banerjee skips Bengal bypolls, eyes new political alignment with Left and Congress after 15-year rule > Following the collapse of her 15-year administration in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee has opted out of the upcoming assembly bypolls. She is now attempting a fresh political consolidation alongside the Left and Congress while battling for control of her fractured party and pushing for broader national opposition unity. **Type:** article · **Category:** Politics · **Published:** 2026-09-15 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/politics/west-bengal-ki-rajaniti-men-mamata-banerjee-ka-naya-danva-vama-dalon-aura-congress-ke-satha-sugabugahata-teja-32374 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal, Trinamool Congress, Suvendu Adhikari, Assembly Bypolls, INDIA Bloc, Left Parties, Congress West Bengal politics is witnessing a dramatic turning point as the founder and former chief minister of the Trinamool Congress, Mamata Banerjee, has chosen not to contest the upcoming assembly bypolls despite persistent appeals from her current and former colleagues. This surprising move has reignited intense debates surrounding her overarching political ambitions. Earlier this year, a massive victory by the Bharatiya National Party brought a definitive end to her unbroken 15-year rule, paving the way for her former close aide turned fierce rival, Suvendu Adhikari, to assume the chief minister's office. ## The Bypolls Battleground and Strategic Retreat Upcoming assembly bypolls are scheduled for September 6 across the constituencies of Rejinagar and Nandigram, triggered after the respective winning candidates resigned from their positions. Humayun Kabir, who won the Rejinagar seat, had publicly invited Mamata Banerjee to contest from the constituency and even claimed he could secure a guaranteed victory for her. Meanwhile, leaders representing the rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee asserted that they would field no candidate in Nandigram if the veteran leader chose to run herself. Despite these offers, the 71-year-old leader decided to stay out of the electoral contest. Both Rejinagar and Nowda fall within the Murshidabad district, where the Muslim community comprises nearly 70 percent of the local population. Recent political shifts in these areas saw the national party secure second place while the regional faction slipped to third, reflecting a deep polarization. ## Internal Feuds and Party Control Struggles Ever since the major factional split within the Trinamool camp, the faction loyal to Mamata Banerjee has been locked in an intense legal and political tussle with the rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee over the party's official name and its iconic 'two flowers' election symbol, which she originally designed. Political observers across the state are well aware of the grassroots influence the former chief minister once wielded, which had famously toppled the long-standing Left Front government in 2011. However, heavy allegations involving fraud, embezzlement, bribery, extortion, and smuggling have now engulfed the political outfit. Although she occasionally resorted to strict measures such as openly reprimanding members and dissolving leadership committees, she was frequently seen helplessly watching as her nephew Abhishek बनर्जी took over the day-to-day organizational control. ## Reaching Out to Old Rivals and National Ambitions In a surprising twist, the veteran leader has now extended an olive branch toward her bitter communist rivals and the Congress party, both of whom she had parted ways with back in 1998. At the same time, she has repeatedly voiced her determination to rebuild her grassroots organization while simultaneously strengthening the broader opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, an opposition bloc whose naming is frequently credited to her supporters. Although parties like the Aam Aadmi Party led by Arvind Kejriwal and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam led by M.K. Stalin have distanced themselves from the platform, certain leaders believe her personal rapport could still persuade them to return ahead of the 2029 general elections. While some political experts argue her push for opposition unity is designed to project herself as a frontline national leader, others maintain she remains focused on regional dominance rather than sweeping national ambitions. ## Facing Corruption Scandals and Crucial Tests The upcoming electoral contests will serve as a definitive litmus test for her faction's organizational strength and its ability to rejuvenate the party following a crushing defeat. The administrative responsibilities of running the state for a decade and a half undoubtedly took a heavy toll on the party apparatus, a fact acknowledged privately by remaining loyalists and openly by defectors. As rival factions fight for supremacy amid a backdrop of severe corruption allegations, the road ahead remains immensely steep. Rebuilding the party from the grassroots while simultaneously navigating a complex web of opposition alliances will determine whether Mamata Banerjee can successfully script a powerful political comeback in West Bengal. ## What this means for you Mamata Banerjee's decision to skip the assembly bypolls and the evolving political realignments in West Bengal will directly influence both the local populace and the broader political landscape. - **In West Bengal:** The upcoming bypoll results will dictate the future trajectory of the opposition forces and the fractured regional party leadership. Voters will witness shifting political dynamics as alliances are tested on local governance issues. - **Across India:** Potential realignments within the broader opposition bloc could reshape national strategy. Shifts in regional party stances will directly impact opposition unity and seat-sharing arrangements for future general elections. - **Political Polarization:** Shifting voter bases in districts like Murshidabad will alter local community dynamics. This ongoing friction is expected to influence administrative focus and grassroots development initiatives. - **Organizational Stability:** Ongoing factional infighting and legal battles over party symbols may create uncertainty among grassroots workers and supporters, directly impacting local political engagement. ## Why this happened Mamata Banerjee's decision to bypass the upcoming bypolls and explore new alignments with the Left and Congress stems from a complex set of political factors. - **Loss of Power:** A decisive electoral defeat earlier this year ended her 15-year continuous rule, triggering an urgent need to regroup and rebuild grassroots support. - **Internal Factionalism:** Severe internal divisions and legal battles with a rival faction over party symbols and official recognition severely fractured the political outfit. - **Corruption Scandals:** Mounting allegations of fraud, embezzlement, bribery, and extortion severely impacted public perception and organizational credibility. - **National Opposition Strategy:** The pressing need to counter the dominant political influence of the ruling party compelled a strategic outreach toward traditional ideological rivals. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. Why did Mamata Banerjee decide not to contest the upcoming assembly bypolls? Despite repeated appeals from her current and former colleagues, she chose to skip the upcoming bypolls, sparking widespread political discussions. ### 2. When and where are the upcoming assembly bypolls scheduled in West Bengal? The assembly bypolls in West Bengal are scheduled for October 6 in the Rejinagar and Nandigram constituencies. ### 3. What political position does Suvendu Adhikari currently hold? Suvendu Adhikari currently serves as the Chief Minister of West Bengal after defeating Mamata Banerjee in the previous elections. ### 4. What is the key demographic and political profile of the Murshidabad district seats? The Murshidabad district features a Muslim population of nearly 70 percent, where recent elections saw the national party finish second and the regional faction slip to third. ### 5. Which groups are involved in the dispute over the party's official symbol? The faction led by Mamata Banerjee is locked in a legal and political tussle with the rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee over the party name and 'two flowers' symbol. ### 6. Which political parties is Mamata Banerjee reaching out to for a new alliance? Mamata Banerjee has extended an olive branch toward her traditional communist rivals and the Congress party. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._