West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Trinamool Congress created a major surprise by welcoming back Pabitra Kar, a long-time close associate of Shuvendu Adhikari. Kar, a resident of Nandigram’s Boyal area, had previously aligned with the opposition but returned to the ruling party in a formal induction ceremony in Kolkata on Tuesday morning, reportedly with TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee officiating his entry.

Once known as a key strategist behind Adhikari’s victory in Nandigram during the 2021 elections, Kar had shifted to the Bharatiya Janata Party before the last polls but gradually became politically inactive over the past year. Despite his association with the opposition, Kar maintained a cordial relationship with Adhikari, though the two had diverging political paths in recent times.

Local sources suggest that tensions over Nandigram’s electoral contest had prompted Kar to increasingly engage with the Trinamool leadership, paving the way for his return. With the 2026 Assembly elections approaching, it is widely expected that Kar may contest as the TMC candidate from Nandigram, potentially facing off against his former ally and the current opposition leader.

Kar’s induction is being seen as a strategic move by the ruling party to adopt a “thorn against a thorn” approach, challenging the opposition in Nandigram with a candidate who has deep local roots and insider knowledge of the rival camp. Political observers note that his return could significantly reshape the electoral dynamics in the constituency, adding a new layer of intrigue to an already high-profile battle.

The TMC’s latest maneuver highlights the party’s efforts to consolidate influence in key constituencies and signals a high-stakes contest in Nandigram, where personal rivalries, local loyalties, and political strategy intersect ahead of the polls.