The Nandigram Assembly by-poll is facing fresh uncertainty on two fronts. The Congress candidate, Milan Pradhan, remains in custody, and the BJP nominee's age has come under scrutiny. Both issues are now part of the political battle around the 6 October vote.
Congress Candidate Milan Pradhan's Arrest and Court Battle
Milan Pradhan was arrested on 18 September. His arrest came shortly after the Mamata Banerjee faction of the Trinamool Congress announced its support for his candidature.
The case against him is linked to a 2007 criminal matter connected to the Nandigram anti-land acquisition movement. His lawyers have argued that this case was not mentioned by the state government's advocate during a Tuesday hearing on his plea.
The legal fight over his custody will now move to the Calcutta High Court on Thursday, 24 September. Pradhan's lawyer will make an urgent mentioning before Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya, seeking the judge's intervention over the Congress candidate's continued custody.
BJP Nominee's Age Under Scrutiny
Along with the Congress candidate's arrest, the age of the BJP nominee is also under scrutiny. This adds a second layer of uncertainty to the by-poll scheduled for 6 October.
What This Means for the Nandigram By-Poll
The by-poll is already a high-stakes contest. With the Congress candidate in custody and a legal challenge before the High Court, the run-up to 6 October remains unsettled. The BJP nominee's age issue adds another point of contention.
- Congress candidate Milan Pradhan arrested on 18 September in a 2007 case
- His lawyer to seek urgent intervention from Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya on 24 September
- BJP nominee's age under scrutiny
- By-poll scheduled for 6 October
Our Take: Uncertainty Clouds Nandigram By-Poll
In our view, the arrest of the Congress candidate and the questions around the BJP nominee's age show how messy this by-poll has become. The custody battle in the High Court is not just a legal matter — it directly affects who can campaign and how the contest shapes up before 6 October.
To put it plainly, voters in Nandigram deserve clarity. If a candidate is in custody days before the poll, and if the rival nominee's basic details are in question, the process itself comes under a cloud. The High Court's decision on 24 September will be a key moment. Until then, the by-poll remains uncertain.
