Two dramatic twists in Bengal’s bypoll battle. In Rejinagar, Trinamool Congress-backed candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury has reversed his decision to withdraw and will contest the election.

Chowdhury had earlier announced that he would pull out of the race amid a dispute over the TMC’s name and election symbol. He also alleged that workers supporting the Mamata Banerjee camp were facing threats.

Chowdhury later clarified that he himself had not been pressured, but claimed that some of his workers had faced intimidation.

He is now set to begin campaigning from Saturday. Reports also suggest that Mamata Banerjee could campaign for him in Rejinagar.

Meanwhile, there has been another twist in Nandigram.

TMC-backed candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey has withdrawn from the contest after meeting BJP leader and Nandigram MLA Suvendu Adhikari.

The Mamata Banerjee camp has now extended its support to Congress candidate Milan Pradhan.

But Pradhan’s candidature has also triggered a political row. He was arrested in connection with a 19-year-old murder case, with the BJP also referring to charges under the Arms Act.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee have questioned the timing of the case and accused the BJP of political targeting. The BJP has rejected those allegations.

With one candidate returning to the fray in Rejinagar and another stepping aside in Nandigram, the Bengal bypoll contest has taken another dramatic turn.