Sanchita Pradhan Dey, the Nandigram bypoll candidate of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress faction, withdrew her nomination on Friday, hours after meeting West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, in a fresh twist to the party's internal battle.
Pradhan Dey, a teacher, met Adhikari at the state secretariat Nabanna on Friday afternoon, accompanied by her husband Satyajit, sources said. She later withdrew her nomination, leaving the Mamata All India Trinamool Congress without a candidate in Nandigram.
The meeting came a day before the last date for withdrawal of nominations for the October 6 bypoll. Pradhan Dey had earlier filed her nomination accompanied by former state minister Akhil Giri.
The development came amid a dramatic reshaping of the Nandigram contest after the Election Commission barred both rival factions from using the All India Trinamool Congress name and its traditional twin-flowers-on-grass symbol.
On Friday, the poll panel allotted the Mamata Banerjee-led faction the name "Mamata All India Trinamool Congress" and a new symbol, while the rival faction was allotted the name "Democratic Trinamool Congress".
(With inputs from PTI)
