Nandigram Bypoll: Congress Nominee Milan Pradhan Arrested in Old Case Hours After Mamata's Support
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Nandigram Bypoll: Congress Nominee Milan Pradhan Arrested in Old Case Hours After Mamata's Support
West Bengal police arrested Milan Pradhan, the Congress candidate for the upcoming Nandigram Assembly by-poll, in connection with an old murder case late on Friday. The arrest in East Midnapore district came within hours of a major political realignments in the state, sparking sharp reactions from Congress leadership.
The crackdown unfolded shortly after Sanchita Dey Pradhan, the candidate representing Mamata Banerjee’s faction of the Trinamool Congress, withdrew her nomination. Following the withdrawal, the former Chief Minister announced her faction’s support for the Congress candidate in the high-stakes constituency.
Old Murder Case Triggered Action, Says Police
Police officials maintained that the action followed established legal procedure rather than political timing.
- Warrant Execution: An official from the East Midnapore district police confirmed that Pradhan was an accused in a pending murder case, adding that a court warrant was already active against his name.
- Timing Questions: Congress leaders questioned why the arrest was executed immediately after the political realignment took shape ahead of the October 6 voting date.
Political Backlash and Allegations
The sudden arrest of its candidate has drawn a fierce response from the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC), which framed the move as an attempt to stifle democratic contestation.
WBPCC president Subhankar Sarkar alleged a conspiracy behind the sudden enforcement of the old case, raising concerns over opposition space in the state. "In this way, the BJP is trying to create a one-party rule in West Bengal. Will there be no opposition politics in this state as well as in the country?" Sarkar questioned while speaking to journalists.
Rejecting the charge, the BJP’s East Midnapore district unit rubbished allegations of involvement, stating the party has no link to the police operation or the underlying criminal case.
Emotional Campaign Stakes in East Midnapore
The Nandigram by-poll, scheduled alongside Rejinagar in Murshidabad for October 6 with results due on November 9, carries intense political significance.
The seat fell vacant after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari won both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in the Assembly elections held earlier this year, ultimately choosing to retain Bhabanipur. To consolidate its hold, the BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath, whose son Chandranath Rath—a personal assistant to Adhikari—was shot dead in North 24 Parganas shortly after the state election results in May.
