00:00In Bengal, the bi-poll battle is heating up even before polling day.
00:06From candidates withdrawing and making a U-turn to an arrest, triggering political allegations,
00:10the contest in Nandigram and Rajinagar has already turned into a full-blown political battle.
00:16And with the fight over the party name and symbol now reaching the Supreme Court,
00:20Bengal's poll drama is only getting bigger.
00:22You're getting all the details in this report.
00:30In Bengal, every poll comes with a political twist.
00:34And as the bi-polls draw closer, the battle lines are only getting busier.
00:39Earlier today, a fresh setback hit Mamata Banerjee's camp.
00:43A day after her party's candidate in Nandigram pulled out,
00:46her Rajinagar candidate too announced his withdrawal.
01:02But then came the twist.
01:04Just over an hour after announcing his exit,
01:07Rabiul met police officials and then reversed his withdrawal.
01:10He now says he will continue to contest the October 6 polls.
01:43He will continue to contest the October 6 polls.
01:48Insiders in Mamata camp have confirmed to India today
01:51that Rabiul will contest under the new name and symbol.
01:54And Nandigram had already served up its own twists just a day earlier.
01:59After Sanchita Pradhan of Mamata's faction withdrew her candidature,
02:03Mamata announced that a camp would back the Congress candidate.
02:06Then came another turn.
02:08Hours later, Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was arrested in connection with four 19-year-old cases.
02:13Three carrying murder-related charges.
02:17Today, he was produced before the court.
02:19Congress called the timing of the arrest no coincidence,
02:22while Didi alleged political vendetta.
02:49But the rebel faction and the BJP have hit back at Mamata's AITC.
03:19The legal battle is running parallel to the electoral one.
03:23Mamata's faction has moved the Supreme Court,
03:25arguing that the election commission did not adequately consider its organizational structure
03:30before denying it the original party name and twin flower symbol.
03:34Team Didi has also filed a separate petition seeking action against 10 rebel TMCMLAs,
03:39including Ritabrata Banerjee.
03:42We don't disrespect the constitutional chair.
03:48But we feel today is a black day in our democratic history.
03:53What is happening in our country that is very unfortunate, unconstitutional, illegal, undemocratic
04:04and totally political biased vendetta.
04:10So, as Nandi Graham and Rejinagar inch closer to the October bipoles,
04:14their political chessboard is getting more crowded,
04:17with candidates quitting, returning, arrests-triggering allegations
04:21and the battle over names and symbols moving all the way to the Supreme Court.
04:25And in Bengal, the poll drama clearly is not waiting for polling day.
04:29Bureau Report, India Today.
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