Kolkata. The arrest of Congress candidate Milan Pradhan before the Nandigram Assembly by-election in West Bengal has heated up the political atmosphere. Information about Pradhan being arrested in an old murder case related to the Nandigram land acquisition movement of 2007 has come to light. According to police sources, an arrest warrant was issued against him in this case.
Milan Pradhan's arrest came at a time when Trinamool Congress had announced its support to him in the Nandigram by-election. Due to this, Congress and Trinamool Congress have raised questions regarding the timing of the arrest. At the same time, the opposition camp has said that the police action has been taken on the basis of pending cases and issued warrants.
Matters related to old Nandigram movement
Milan Pradhan has been among the leaders associated with the Nandigram land movement of 2007. Congress has said that many cases related to the movement have been registered against him. Bengal Congress President Subhankar Sarkar said that he had received information about his detention in the murder case, although the party did not have complete information about the case at that time.
On the other hand, Democratic Trinamool Congress leader Ritabrata Banerjee claimed that three murder cases were pending against Pradhan and it was necessary to act on the warrant during the elections. This claim has been made from the political side and the final judicial status of the cases is a separate matter.
Questions raised on arrest after Mamata's support
In the Nandigram by-election, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, a candidate of a faction of Trinamool Congress, had withdrawn her nomination. After this, Mamata Banerjee announced her support to Congress candidate Milan Pradhan. Pradhan was arrested shortly after this.
Mamata Banerjee raised questions on the timing of the arrest and called it an action to bring an old case to the fore again. Congress leaders also alleged that the arrests were being used to influence the electoral contest. Rejecting BJP's claim of political vendetta regarding these allegations, it has been said that the police has taken action as per the legal process.
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal has said that the party will not withdraw Milan Pradhan's candidature and he will continue to be a candidate in the Nandigram by-election. He has also talked about raising the issue of arrest at the national level.
This arrest, which took place just before the by-election in Nandigram, has now become a major issue of electoral politics. On one hand, the police action is being linked to the old case and warrant, while Congress and Trinamool Congress are raising questions on its timing. Now everyone's eyes are on the legal status of the case and the further election process.