The decision to keep the MAITC symbol emerged from a tense meeting where Derek O'Brien, Kunal Ghosh and Dola Sen warned that the party had no realistic chance of winning the by‑elections and that workers would face heavy pressure from the ruling party – a move they believed would be safer if they backed Congress candidates instead of the BJP.
Kalyan Banerjee broke the consensus, arguing that staying out would erode the party’s standing in the Kalighat constituency, jeopardising its name, symbol and the ongoing funds tussle. He insisted that contesting was essential to protect MAITC’s assets and influence.
Following Kalyan’s interjection, Mamata reversed her initial inclination and retained the MAITC symbol. The shift sparked a sharp backlash from within the party: Kunal Ghosh publicly scolded the decision in a deleted Facebook post, while candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury in Rejinagar briefly withdrew, only to return after a private discussion with Mamata.
In Nandigram, the controversy deepened when Sanchita Pradhan Dey resigned from her MLA post, citing the party’s fractured stance. The episode exposed a rift between leaders who wanted to avoid a direct contest and those who saw the by‑elections as a battleground for party identity.
With the decision made, MAITC is now preparing to field its own candidates in both constituencies, setting up a campaign that could challenge the BJP’s dominance in the region. Party insiders say the next few weeks will be crucial for rallying grassroots support and consolidating the party’s political position.