Pabitra Kar: TMC’s grassroots challenger in the high-stakes Nandigram battle

E-PaperSubscribeSubscribeEnjoy unlimited accessSubscribe Now! Get features like Pabitra Kar, once a key strategist for BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, is now the face of the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) campaign to reclaim Nandigram. With the 2026 Assembly elections ongoing, the focus remains on this Purba Medinipur stronghold, which has already cast its ballots in one of the state's most anticipated contests. TMC candidate from Nandigram constituency Pabitra Kar shows his ink-marked finger after casting vote during the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly election, in Nandigram, Purba Medinipur district, Thursday, April 23. (PTI)The shift in Kar’s political loyalty has defined the rivalry in this constituency. By fielding a former BJP leader who deeply understands Adhikari’s local network, the TMC has turned a traditional party battle into a showdown. The election outcome now rests on whether the former aide can successfully dismantle the influence of his former mentor.