Mamata Raises Questions After Nandigram Congress Candidate Milan Pradhan Arrested

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has questioned the timing of the arrest of Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, hours after announcing her faction’s support for him in the upcoming Nandigram Assembly bypoll. The election is scheduled for October 6.

Minutes after we extended our support to the Congress candidate for the bypoll in Nandigram, the Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was arrested. The timing raises serious questions and is the usual BJP formula: dig out an old case. But why now? Just after we announced support to…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) September 18, 2026

Pradhan was arrested in connection with an old case linked to the 2007 Nandigram land-acquisition movement. According to a senior police officer quoted by The Indian Express, the case involved a pending arrest warrant, and police said they review such warrants during election periods.

Reacting to the development, Banerjee alleged that the arrest reflected a pattern of political intimidation and questioned why action was taken at this particular time. Her remarks are political allegations and have not been independently established. Congress leaders also criticised the arrest and demanded Pradhan’s release.