2 hrs ago
Rahul Gandhi Calls Nandigram Candidate Arrest Political Revenge Ahead
Milan Pradhan is the Congress candidate in an upcoming election in Nandigram.
Police arrested him in connection with a case from 2007.
The case was related to a movement against acquiring land in the area.
Rahul Gandhi said the arrest was meant to hurt the election campaign.
He called it political revenge and an attack on democracy.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge made similar accusations.
Congress leaders said the authorities were using an old case against an opposition candidate.
The election is planned for October 6, and votes will be counted on October 9.
The articles do not include a direct response from the BJP to these accusations.
Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was arrested on September 18 in connection with a 2007 Nandigram anti-land-acquisition movement case.
Rahul Gandhi called the arrest “political revenge” and the “murder of democracy,” alleging that the BJP sought to end electoral competition.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP of “vote chori,” “chunav chori” and misusing agencies against an opposition candidate.
The Nandigram Assembly bypoll is scheduled for October 6, with vote counting on October 9.
Mamata Banerjee’s faction backed Pradhan after its candidate withdrew, while the Election Commission froze the Trinamool Congress name and “Flowers and Grass” symbol amid a factional dispute.
- Who
- Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was arrested; Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and K C Venugopal criticized the arrest. The reports also mention Mamata Banerjee, Suvendu Adhikari, Sanchita Pradhan Dey and Subhasish Bhattacharya.
- What
- Pradhan was arrested in connection with a 2007 anti-land-acquisition movement case, prompting Congress leaders to allege political retaliation and misuse of power.
- Where
- Nandigram in West Bengal, India; Pradhan was reportedly detained at a hotel in Chandipur, Purba Medinipur district.
- When
- The arrest and statements occurred on September 18, 2026; the bypoll is scheduled for October 6, 2026, with counting on October 9, 2026.
- Why
- The reports say Pradhan was arrested over alleged involvement in the 2007 movement case. Congress leaders allege the arrest was politically motivated, while the reports do not provide a direct BJP response.
Congress Allegations
Reported Criminal-Case Basis
Reason for the arrest
Congress Allegations
Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and K C Venugopal said the arrest was politically motivated, describing it as revenge, vote theft or an effort to undermine democracy.
Reported Criminal-Case Basis
The reports state that Pradhan was arrested over alleged involvement in a 2007 anti-land-acquisition movement case. One report says he had been named in more than 12 related cases; the articles do not detail the evidence.
Effect on the election
Congress Allegations
Congress leaders alleged that the arrest was intended to weaken or end electoral competition ahead of the Nandigram bypoll.
Reported Criminal-Case Basis
The articles establish that the arrest occurred before the bypoll but do not independently establish that it was intended to affect the election.
Political response
Congress Allegations
Congress leaders said the party would not be intimidated and would continue contesting the election.
Reported Criminal-Case Basis
The reports do not include a direct response from the BJP to Congress’s allegations.
Key facts
- Arrested candidate
- Milan Pradhan, the Congress candidate for the Nandigram bypoll
- Case
- A 2007 case linked to Nandigram’s anti-land-acquisition movement
- Reported additional case details
- A Congress leader said Pradhan had been named in more than 12 cases connected with the Nandigram land movement.
- Bypoll date
- October 6, 2026
- Counting date
- October 9, 2026
- Congress allegations
- Rahul Gandhi called the arrest political revenge and the murder of democracy; Mallikarjun Kharge called it vote chori and chunav chori.
- Election Commission action
- The Election Commission of India froze the Trinamool Congress’s Flowers and Grass symbol and barred both factions from using the party name or symbol until the dispute is settled.
Quotes
Mallikarjun Kharge
Congress president
“The arrest of Congress candidate Milan Pradhan for the Nandigram by-election is no coincidence—it is political revenge, the murder of democracy. The BJP has no faith in fair elections—that’s why it wants to cling to power sometimes through vote theft, sometimes through stealing governments, and sometimes through stealing parties.”
telegraphindia.com
news18.com
theprint.in
“The Prime Minister boasts of India as the “Mother of Democracy”. What the BJP is doing in West Bengal is the MURDER OF DEMOCRACY. Congress will neither be intimidated nor silenced. A united INDIA will fight back,”
theprint.in
Sources
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