Nandigram Bypoll Shocker: Congress Candidate Milan Pradhan Arrested!

Kolkata is buzzing with political tension after Congress's Nandigram by-election candidate, Milan Pradhan, was arrested on Friday evening. Pradhan faces serious charges, including murder, rioting, and criminal intimidation, stemming from the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement. Police confirmed he would be produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Haldia on Saturday.

The arrest occurred at a hotel in Chandipur, Purba Medinipur district, where Pradhan was apprehended along with another party leader, Subhasish Bhattacharya. Bhattacharya was also arrested for allegedly obstructing the police from carrying out Pradhan's arrest. The cases against Pradhan, involving three registered at Nandigram police station and one at Khejuri police station, fall under sections of the IPC and Arms Act.

This dramatic development comes just after former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced her party's support for the Congress in the upcoming October 6 Nandigram by-poll, following her own candidate's withdrawal.

The alliance was seen as a significant move, potentially reshaping the Opposition's strategy in West Bengal.

State Congress president Subhankar Sarkar strongly condemned the arrest, expressing surprise and questioning its timing. He stated that the party was not informed about the reasons for the arrest or Pradhan's whereabouts initially. Sarkar highlighted that Pradhan was a prominent figure in the 2007 Nandigram movement and had several cases against him, but asked, "Why was he arrested today?"

Sarkar further criticized the police action, noting that the Model Code of Conduct is currently in force, placing the administration of the Nandigram constituency under the Election Commission's purview. He questioned how the police could arrest a candidate under such circumstances without proper procedure or explanation.

According to Sarkar, even a senior Election Commission official couldn't provide details on Pradhan's arrest when approached by the Congress party.

The Congress leader didn't shy away from accusing Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and the BJP, suggesting that the arrest was politically motivated. Sarkar claimed the BJP was "afraid of losing the polls" because Milan Pradhan is a popular candidate in Nandigram.

He suggested that if questioning was needed, Pradhan could have been summoned instead of being arrested.

Sarkar also expressed astonishment that the BJP, despite winning the assembly elections with a large mandate, would allegedly use the Election Commission to secure a by-poll victory, calling it a sign of their diminishing relevance.

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