Nandigram Political Drama: Congress Candidate Arrested Hours After Mamata’s Backing
What Happened
Milan Pradhan, the Congress candidate for the October 6 Nandigram Assembly bypoll, was arrested by West Bengal Police in connection with a 2007 murder case linked to the Nandigram anti-land acquisition movement, just hours after Mamata Banerjee announced her support for him. The backing came after the Mamata-led faction withdrew its own candidate, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, from the contest. Opposition leaders questioned the timing of the arrest, noting that it occurred a day before scrutiny of nomination papers.
Key Takeaways
The arrest has sharply escalated political tensions in West Bengal ahead of the high-profile Nandigram bypoll, a constituency closely associated with Suvendu Adhikari and Mamata Banerjee. Congress and the Mamata-led faction have alleged political vendetta, while police sources cited a pending warrant in an old case. The episode is likely to become a major flashpoint in the bypoll campaign.