Tamluk, Nov. 1: Trinamul leaders known to be opposed to Subhendu Adhikari and his father Sisir Adhikari have joined the bypoll campaign for Dibyendu Adhikari in Tamluk following a nudge from the chief minister, sources said.

Several Trinamul leaders said Subhendu, whose election to the Nandigram Assembly seat this year necessitated the bypolls in his former Lok Sabha constituency, had managed a "rare" show of unity by getting minister Soumen Mahapatra and party MLA Akhil Giri to campaign for his brother Dibyendu.

Subhendu and Mahapatra had yesterday taken out a joint campaign rally in Tamluk. Giri had attended a workers' meeting called by Subhendu last week.

"Giri and the Adhikaris do not see eye to eye. Subhendu and Giri have had testy ties since 2014. But for this campaign, he has brought Giri on board," said a senior ruling party leader.

The leader pointed out that Subhendu's decision to unite the forces was crucial when viewed against Trinamul's performance in the Assembly polls in Tamluk. In six of the seven Assembly segments in Tamluk, the number of votes had declined in comparison to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

In three of the segments, Tamluk, Panskura East and Haldia, Trinamul had trailed.

A senior Trinamul minister said Subhendu had requested chief minister Mamata Banerjee to ensure the involvement of all leaders in the district to avoid any embarrassment in the bypoll.

On October 2, Mamata had addressed Trinamul leaders from East Midnapore and was said to have reminded them that the bypoll should not be limited to the Adhikaris alone, despite a member from the family being the candidate.

Sources said the chief minister had repeatedly told the party leaders that the candidates were contesting on her behalf.

Before yesterday, when Mahapatra joined Subhendu and Dibyendu in the campaign rally, the Pingla MLA was not seen in any political event associated with the Adhikaris in over the past six months.

"Subhendu has often attempted to sideline Soumen Mahapatra. But he also realises his importance," a party leader said.

Mahapatra has been made the campaign in-charge in the Moyna Assembly segment.

Several Trinamul leaders said they were worried about the decline in the margin of votes in the Tamluk Lok Sabha seat from 2.46 lakh in 2014 to 94,189 this year, of which Subhendu alone secured 81,230 in Nandigram.

Although the transport minister had last week described the bypoll as an "already won match", he appeared to betray worries when he said he relied on the local leaders to ensure handsome margins.

Apart from Mahapatra and Giri, Subhendu has involved Haldia municipality chairman Debaprasad Mondal and some other leaders whom he had removed from party posts after the Assembly polls.

Asked about his joint campaign for Dibyendu, Mahapatra said: "I have been asked to come and campaign here. So, I have come. I will do whatever my party tells me to."

Giri admitted that the decline in the Assembly poll margin was solely because of factional feuds.

"That will not be the case this time," he added.

Some Trinamul leaders, however, cast a doubt on the show of unity. "These people strongly oppose the Adhikaris and this show of unity could be a facade. We'll know everything on November 22 (when the results are declared)," said a source.