Big news is emerging regarding the Nandigram by-election. Congress has suffered a major setback ahead of the Nandigram Assembly by-election in West Bengal. Congress candidate Milan Pradhan has been sent to judicial custody until October 3, 2026. He was arrested on Friday and the order was issued after he was produced in court on Saturday. Milan Pradhan’s arrest comes at a time when the campaign for the Nandigram by-election is underway. Consequently, after being imprisoned, the Congress candidate will be unable to campaign.
Milan Pradhan’s arrest was based on a non-bailable warrant pending in an old case related to the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram. He has been detained in this case until October 3. According to the police, four warrants were pending against him. These cases include charges of murder, attempted murder, rioting, kidnapping, criminal intimidation, and the Arms Act. Congress candidate Milan Pradhan has been jailed in connection with these cases.
Congress candidate to remain in judicial custody until October 3
Milan Pradhan was produced before a Haldia court on Saturday. The court ordered him to be remanded in judicial custody for 14 days, and he will remain in custody until October 3.
The police stated that these cases were pending for a long time, and arrest warrants were already in place against Milan Pradhan. He has now been arrested. The prosecution also claimed in court that he had been out of police custody for a long time. On the other hand, the Congress party has questioned the timing and circumstances of this action, claiming that it was deliberately taken to stop Congress campaigning.
According to the current order, Milan Pradhan will remain in judicial custody until October 3, while according to the available election schedule, October 4 is the last day of campaigning, and voting is scheduled for October 6. Therefore, the question now arises: if there is no change in his detention, it will be difficult for him to personally participate in the campaign. This means that the Congress candidate will no longer be able to campaign.
Questions also surround the timing of the arrest
The timing of Milan Pradhan’s arrest has also become a political debate. The Congress party claims that Mamata Banerjee-backed candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew her nomination from the Nandigram seat, after which Mamata Banerjee announced her support for Congress candidate Milan Pradhan. Just hours later, Milan Pradhan was arrested. The Congress alleges that the BJP orchestrated the arrest out of fear of losing.
Congress and Trinamool Congress leaders have questioned the timing of the action, calling it a politically significant development. The BJP, however, has rejected these allegations.
Election buzz in Nandigram increases
The Nandigram by-election is already considered crucial in West Bengal politics. Nandigram has been a hot topic ever since the by-election was announced, and now the arrest and judicial custody of the Congress candidate has sparked renewed debate about the electoral contest. The most important point at this time is that Milan Pradhan is in jail until October 3, and the last day of campaigning is October 4. If he does not get relief from the court before then, his opportunity to campaign in person will be extremely limited.
