Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was arrested in West Bengal on Friday, hours after Mamata Banerjee announced that her faction of the Trinamool Congress would support his candidature in the upcoming Nandigram Assembly bypoll.
The arrest has triggered a political controversy, with the Congress questioning the timing and alleging that the action was intended to intimidate the Opposition. According to reports, Pradhan was taken into custody in connection with an old case linked to the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram. Some reports said he had been named in multiple cases connected with the movement.
The development came on a politically eventful day in Nandigram. Earlier, Mamata Banerjee announced that her faction would not field a candidate in the October 6 bypoll and would instead support Congress's Milan Pradhan. The decision followed the withdrawal of Sanchita Pradhan Dey, who had been nominated by the Mamata-led faction.
Banerjee said the decision was aimed at strengthening Opposition unity and described Congress as a “sister party”. She also linked the move to efforts to strengthen the INDIA bloc. The announcement came amid an ongoing dispute over the Trinamool Congress's name and election symbol, following the Election Commission's recent decision concerning the rival factions.
Following Pradhan's arrest, Congress leaders strongly criticised the development. Congress spokesperson Mita Chakraborty told ANI that Pradhan was arrested only a few hours after receiving Mamata Banerjee's support. She questioned whether such actions were aimed at restricting Opposition activity and said Congress would continue its political fight.
Another senior Congress leader alleged that the arrest was politically motivated and referred to Pradhan's involvement in the Nandigram movement in 2007. These are allegations made by Congress, and the circumstances and legal basis of the arrest remain subject to the ongoing proceedings.
Reports differ slightly on the details of the case. While several reports have described it as an old murder case, others have linked the arrest to cases arising from the 2007 land-acquisition protests. Further official details about the specific case and the grounds for arrest were not immediately available.
The arrest has added another dramatic twist to the Nandigram bypoll, which is already witnessing significant political changes. With Mamata Banerjee's faction backing the Congress candidate, the electoral contest has entered a new phase ahead of polling on October 6.
The latest development is also likely to intensify political exchanges between the ruling BJP and Opposition parties in the run-up to the bypoll. Congress has raised questions over the timing of the arrest, while the legal proceedings will determine the formal basis of the police action.
As the election campaign progresses, attention will now remain focused on the legal proceedings involving Milan Pradhan and how his arrest affects the Congress campaign in Nandigram.
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