Rejinagar By-Poll: TMC's Rabiul Alam Chowdhury Stays Back in Race

Kolkata: After a day-long political drama, Trinamool Congress candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury has decided to stay in the fray for the Rejinagar Assembly by-election.

Chowdhury had earlier on Saturday morning announced his withdrawal from the contest, citing a shortage of party workers, alleged police intimidation, and issues over the party symbol. He had said he sought guidance from party supremo Mamata Banerjee, who reportedly asked him to act as per his conscience.

Hours after his press conference, Banerjee is said to have spoken to him over the phone and requested him to continue in the race for the sake of the party. Chowdhury subsequently met the Inspector-in-Charge of Beldanga Police Station in a closed-door meeting and sought security for party workers.

Reacting to the development, Aam Janata Unnayan Party MLA and chairman Humayun Kabir alleged that police had pressured Chowdhury to stay in the contest to split minority votes and indirectly help the BJP. Kabir further alleged that police had arrested his party's general secretary Asif Iqbal in false arms and fake currency cases to demoralize them and had changed their symbol from 'whistle' to 'table'.

Chowdhury, however, said he wanted to contest from his old home turf Rejinagar at the request of his leader Mamata Banerjee.BJP candidate Sujal Sarkar said the BJP is not concerned about who is in the fray and claimed the BJP will win, adding that the TMC is divided into several factions.