Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Congress Condemns Nandigram Candidate’s Arrest, Accuses BJP of Intimidation
Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was arrested in West Bengal.
Police allegations link him to a 2007 protest over land acquisition in Nandigram.
Congress leader K C Venugopal said the case was being used to scare political opponents.
He accused the BJP of trying to weaken democracy.
Another Congress leader, Subhasish Bhattacharya, was also arrested.
He was accused of trying to stop police from arresting Pradhan.
The arrests happened after Mamata Banerjee’s party said it would support Pradhan.
The Nandigram bypoll is scheduled for October 6.
Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was arrested on Friday over alleged involvement in the 2007 Nandigram anti-land acquisition movement.
Congress leader K C Venugopal called the arrest an attempt by the BJP to undermine democracy and intimidate the Opposition.
Party leader Subhasish Bhattacharya was also arrested for allegedly trying to prevent police from apprehending Pradhan.
Pradhan was reportedly arrested at a hotel in Chandipur, Purba Medinipur, and faces more than 12 cases linked to the movement.
The arrests followed Mamata Banerjee’s announcement that her party would support Pradhan in the October 6 Nandigram bypoll.
- Who
- Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, Congress leaders K C Venugopal and Subhasish Bhattacharya, Mamata Banerjee, and the Bharatiya Janata Party are central to the report.
- What
- Pradhan and Bhattacharya were arrested in connection with allegations related to the 2007 Nandigram land-acquisition movement.
- When
- The arrests took place on Friday; the Nandigram bypoll is scheduled for October 6.
- Where
- Pradhan was arrested at a hotel in Chandipur, in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district.
- Why
- Authorities alleged Pradhan was involved in the 2007 movement and Bhattacharya tried to prevent his arrest; Congress said the action was politically motivated.
Congress’s Characterization
Stated Arrest Basis
Political motivation
Congress’s Characterization
Congress described the arrest as an effort by the BJP to hijack democracy and intimidate its candidate after Mamata Banerjee’s support was announced.
Stated Arrest Basis
The report attributes the arrest to allegations concerning Pradhan’s involvement in the 2007 Nandigram anti-land acquisition movement; it does not include a direct BJP response.
Bhattacharya’s arrest
Congress’s Characterization
Bhattacharya said his arrest was part of what he called a dirty game by the BJP.
Stated Arrest Basis
A party leader said Bhattacharya was arrested for allegedly trying to prevent police from apprehending Pradhan.
- Arrested candidate
- Milan Pradhan, the Congress candidate for the Nandigram bypoll
- Additional arrest
- Congress leader Subhasish Bhattacharya
- Case background
- Alleged involvement in the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram
- Reported cases
- Pradhan has been named in more than 12 cases linked to the movement
- Arrest location
- A hotel in Chandipur, Purba Medinipur district
- Bypoll date
- October 6
- Congress reaction
- K C Venugopal accused the BJP of attempting to intimidate the Opposition and undermine democracy