Nandigram Bypoll: In a dramatic turn of events, West Bengal police on Friday arrested Congress candidate for the Nandigram Assembly bypoll, Milan Pradhan, hours after former chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced that her faction would support his candidature to strengthen the INDIA bloc. NDTV reported that the arrest has been made in connection with an old alleged murder case.
Congress spokesperson Mita Chakraborty slammed the West Bengal government, questioning Milan Pradhan's arrest. Is it a democracy or autocracy, she questioned.
"Today, Mamata Banerjee - the former Chief Minister - extended her support to Milan Pradhan. Within just a few hours, he was arrested. If you resort to intimidation - refusing to give space to the opposition - do you want autocracy or democracy in this country? If you think you can stop the Congress or the opposition through such threats, then you are likely under a complete misconception," the Congress leader said.
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Mamata Extends Her Party's Support To Congress After Setback
Just a few hours ago, Banerjee announced her party's support for the Congress in the October 6 Nandigram bypoll, after its candidate withdrew from the contest following a meeting with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
Calling the Congress a "sister party", Banerjee said the move was aimed at strengthening the INDIA bloc. Her remarks mark a significant political u-turn for the TMC, which during its 15 years in power has maintained that it can take on the BJP on its own in Bengal and has repeatedly resisted Congress' overtures for a broader electoral understanding in the state.
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Sanchita Pradhan Dey, who had been fielded by the Mamata faction in Nandigram withdrew her candidature. Pradhan Dey met Adhikari at Nabanna on Friday and subsequently withdrew her nomination, leaving the Banerjee camp without a candidate in the bypoll-bound constituency.
Congress has fielded Milan Pradhan in Nandigram, and Banerjee's announcement means her faction will now support the Congress candidate instead of putting up another nominee.
The October 6 bypolls, which began as a contest involving rival TMC factions, the Congress and the BJP, have thus acquired an additional dimension, with the Nandigram contest emerging as a test of the rapidly shifting opposition equations in West Bengal.
(With Agencies Inputs)