In a major setback for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) just weeks before the 2026 Assembly Elections, sitting MLA and former Malda District President Abdur Rahim Bakshi resigned from the party on Monday. Bakshi has officially decided to return to the Congress, a move that is expected to alter the political equation in the Malda district. The primary reason behind his exit is the denial of an election ticket for the upcoming polls.

Following his defection, Bakshi took a swipe at the TMC leadership, stating, “I had joined the Trinamool with the sole intention of stopping the BJP’s communal agenda in Bengal. However, I soon realized that there is no space for honest work in TMC. They have betrayed loyal leaders.” Bakshi’s return is seen as a morale booster for the Congress in Malda, which was once their stronghold. For TMC, losing a prominent minority face like Bakshi right before the first phase of voting could prove costly in the tightly contested North Bengal belt.