Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Congress questions timing of candidate's arrest before Nandigram bypoll
The Congress party is unhappy that its Nandigram election candidate, Milan Pradhan, was arrested before the vote.
Congress leader Pawan Khera said the cases were old and questioned why the arrest happened at that time.
He suggested the arrest followed Mamata Banerjee's decision to support the Congress candidate.
Police said Pradhan was arrested because of a pending warrant.
The warrant concerns at least four cases involving rioting, murder and criminal intimidation.
These cases relate to protests over land acquisition in Nandigram in 2007.
Khera also criticized a new charge on some digital payments.
He said the BJP has been spreading negative messages about the Congress and Rahul Gandhi.
The Congress questioned why candidate Milan Pradhan was arrested ahead of the Nandigram bypoll.
Congress leader Pawan Khera said the cases against Pradhan were old and linked the arrest to Mamata Banerjee's support.
Police said Pradhan was arrested under a pending warrant involving at least four cases from the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement.
Khera criticized a new 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate on specified UPI transactions above Rs 2,000.
He also accused the BJP of conducting a long-running propaganda campaign against Rahul Gandhi and the Congress.
- Who
- Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, Congress leader Pawan Khera, the West Bengal Police and Mamata Banerjee.
- What
- The Congress criticized the timing of Pradhan's arrest before the Nandigram bypoll and raised separate objections to a new UPI transaction charge.
- When
- The criticism was made on Saturday; the Merchant Discount Rate framework is scheduled to begin on October 15.
- Where
- The arrest and bypoll concern Nandigram in West Bengal; Khera also addressed posters in Indore.
- Why
- Police cited a pending warrant connected to at least four cases, while the Congress alleged the arrest was timed after Mamata Banerjee supported its candidate.
Congress's allegations
Police and ruling-party context
Timing of arrest
Congress's allegations
Pawan Khera said the cases were old and questioned why the West Bengal Police arrested Pradhan after Mamata Banerjee supported the Congress candidate.
Police and ruling-party context
Police said the arrest was connected to a pending warrant in at least four cases related to the 2007 Nandigram movement.
Political impact
Congress's allegations
Khera said voters would respond to what he described as such tactics at the appropriate time.
Police and ruling-party context
The article reports the police's legal explanation but does not provide a separate response from the Bharatiya Janata Party to the allegation.
Digital payment charges
Congress's allegations
Khera criticized the 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate and alleged it was imposed under pressure from the United States.
Police and ruling-party context
The article states that the new framework is scheduled to take effect on October 15, with specified sectors such as fuel subject to a flat fee.
- Candidate arrested
- Milan Pradhan
- Election
- Nandigram bypoll, West Bengal
- Arrest basis
- A pending warrant involving at least four cases
- Reported charges
- Rioting, murder and criminal intimidation
- Cases' background
- The 2007 anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram
- UPI charge
- A 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate on specified transactions above Rs 2,000
- UPI framework start
- Scheduled for October 15, with fuel subject to a flat fee