Revolutionary Socialist Party withdraws from Rejinagar bypolls

The Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) has announced its decision to withdraw from the upcoming Rejinagar assembly bypolls in West Bengal. The party cited a protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI) for refusing to allot its traditional “spade & stoker” electoral symbol, instead assigning the “bucket” symbol for the contest. RSP state secretary Tapan Hore stated the withdrawal is a protest, though the move may be symbolic as the deadline for nomination withdrawals has already passed.

Simultaneously, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the leading party of the West Bengal Left Front, has launched an online fundraising campaign to support its candidates in the Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls. The CPI(M) is seeking donations via social media to fund its campaigns. This fundraising effort comes amid internal friction within the Left Front, as the RSP had previously fielded its own candidate in Rejinagar in opposition to the Front's official nominee, Sayeed Asad Ali.

The bypolls for both Nandigram and Rejinagar are scheduled for October 6, with results expected on October 9.