Congress’ Nandigram Candidate Arrested Hours After Mamata Banerjee Extends Suppo
Milan Pradhan was arrested in connection with an old murder case linked to the 2007 Nandigram protests, shortly after Mamata Banerjee announced that her faction would back his candidature in the October 6 Assembly bypoll.
Congress candidate Milan Pradhan has been arrested in West Bengal in connection with an alleged murder case dating back to the 2007 Nandigram anti-land acquisition protests. The arrest came just hours after former chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced that her faction would support Pradhan in the upcoming Nandigram Assembly bypoll.
Mamata Banerjee made the announcement during a press conference at her Kalighat residence on Friday. Her decision followed the withdrawal of Sanchita Pradhan Dey, who had initially been fielded by her faction after a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
The arrest has added another political twist to the closely watched Nandigram contest. The constituency carries considerable significance in Bengal politics, particularly because of its association with the anti-land acquisition movement of 2007.
The Nandigram protests became one of the defining political movements of Mamata Banerjee’s career. The agitation helped the Trinamool Congress strengthen its campaign against the Left Front, which had ruled West Bengal for 34 years. The Trinamool Congress eventually came to power in 2011 and remained in government until the BJP’s victory in the 2026 Assembly elections.
Reacting to Pradhan’s arrest, Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh questioned the timing of the action.
“Sometime after Mamata Banerjee extended support to the Congress candidate from Nandigram, the way Congress candidate Milan Pradhan has been arrested is unbelievable. Why such lack of confidence, why such fear?” he said.
Ghosh also accused the BJP of undermining democratic institutions in West Bengal and alleged that the arrest was part of an effort to weaken the Opposition. These remarks represent the Trinamool leader’s political assessment and have not been independently established as fact.
With the October 6 bypoll approaching, the arrest of Pradhan is likely to become another major point of contention in the already politically charged Nandigram contest.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
