Congress candidate for Bengal Assembly by polls, Milan Pradhan, was arrested by West Bengal Police on Friday in connection with an old murder case. The arrest comes within hours after former chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced that her faction of the Trinamool Congress would support his candidature in the upcoming Nandigram Assembly bypoll.
Pradhan's arrest has added a fresh twist to an already rapidly changing electoral contest in Nandigram, where polling is scheduled for October 6 and counting will take place on October 9.
According to reports, Pradhan was an accused in an old murder case and a warrant had been issued against him. He was arrested on Friday in connection with that warrant.
The arrest came shortly after Banerjee announced that her faction would back Pradhan after its own candidate, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, withdrew from the Nandigram contest. 'In solidarity with I.N.D.I.A alliance…will support Congress party in Nandigram…’ Banerjee said in a press conference following Election Commission’s announcement to ‘freeze’ TMC’s ‘twin flower’ symbol.
Congress questions timing of arrest
The timing of Pradhan's arrest has triggered a political confrontation, with the Congress alleging that the action was politically motivated.
West Bengal Congress president Shubhankar Sarkar questioned the circumstances surrounding the arrest and alleged that the development was aimed at restricting Opposition politics.
“Suddenly a case has been brought up! In this way, the BJP wants to create a one-party system. Will there be no Opposition politics in this country?” Sarkar said.
Mamata's bats for Congress
candidate
The arrest followed an unexpected political development in Nandigram. Banerjee announced earlier on Friday that her faction would support Congress candidate Milan Pradhan after Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew from the contest.
Mamata Banerjee’s announcement came after, candidate from her team, Pradhan Dey, met West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at the state secretariat, Nabanna, before withdrawing from the election.
