Nandigram Political Twist: Congress Candidate Milan Pradhan Arrested After Mamata Banerjee Support

The political atmosphere in Nandigram has taken a dramatic and controversial turn as the by-election approaches. In a series of rapid developments that have stunned the local electorate, Milan Pradhan, the Congress candidate for the Nandigram seat, was arrested by the police on Friday evening. This arrest is particularly significant as it occurred shortly after West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee publicly declared her support for Pradhan's candidacy. The timing of the police action, coming just before the final day for filing nominations, has triggered a massive political firestorm in the state.

Details of the Arrest and Timing

Milan Pradhan was reportedly engaged in a door-to-door campaign in the Reyapara area, which is adjacent to Nandigram Block Number 2. According to sources, the police arrived at the location and took him into custody at approximately 5:30 PM. While the specific details of the charges were initially unclear, police sources later indicated that Pradhan is an accused in an old murder case and a warrant had been issued in his name. The arrest was executed on Friday, while Saturday marks the final deadline for the submission of nomination papers for the upcoming by-election. The sudden nature of the arrest during active campaigning has led to intense speculation regarding its political motivations.

The Sanchita Pradhan Factor and Mamata's Support

The arrest follows a series of unexpected political maneuvers in Nandigram. Earlier on the same day, Sanchita Pradhan, who was the official candidate of Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, met with Suvendu Adhikari. Following this meeting, she announced the withdrawal of her nomination. This sudden vacancy led Mamata Banerjee to announce that the TMC would support the Congress candidate, Milan Pradhan, in the Nandigram contest. However, within hours of this announcement, Pradhan was arrested by the police, effectively throwing the opposition's strategy into disarray. The sequence of Sanchita Pradhan's withdrawal, Mamata's subsequent support for the Congress, and the immediate arrest of the candidate has created a complex political narrative.

Congress Alleges Political Conspiracy

The Congress party has reacted with fury to the arrest of their candidate. State Congress President Shubhankar Sarkar has alleged a deep-seated political conspiracy involving the BJP. He stated, "Suddenly, a case has emerged. In this way, the BJP is trying to establish a one-party rule. " Sarkar suggested that the arrest was a calculated move to eliminate any viable opposition before the polls, while former State Congress President Adhir Chowdhury also condemned the action, stating that the elections are being turned into a farce. He remarked, "The arrest means that the BJP is scared of the Congress candidate.

Reactions from BJP and TMC Factions

The BJP has dismissed the allegations of a conspiracy, maintaining that the police were simply performing their duty. According to the BJP, the arrest is a legal matter related to an old criminal case and has no connection to political developments. Meanwhile, Madan Mitra, an MLA from the Democratic Trinamool Congress (Ritabrata faction), commented on the administrative nature of the event. He stated, "This is a matter for the entire administration. Whether someone is a candidate or not, the administration can arrest them if they choose. However, I would say that Mamata Banerjee could have spoken about supporting our candidate.

The Battle for Nandigram on October 6

The Nandigram seat became vacant after Suvendu Adhikari, who won the seat in the previous assembly elections, vacated it. The by-election is scheduled to take place on October 6. The BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath, the mother of Suvendu Adhikari's deceased assistant Chandranath Rath, as its candidate. The Chief Minister has appealed to the voters to ensure a victory for Hasirani Rath, who hails from Chandipur in East Medinipur, with record votes. On the other hand, the All India Trinamool Congress had initially fielded its own representative, while the Ritabrata Banerjee faction had nominated Mohammad Ehteshamul Haq. The CPI and ISF have also fielded their candidates. With Sanchita Pradhan's withdrawal and Milan Pradhan's arrest, the electoral battle in Nandigram has become one of the most watched contests in the state.