# Congress Nandigram candidate arrested hours after Mamata backs him

2026-09-18T13:57:02+00:00 | Politics | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 4 independent outlets

Congress Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan was arrested hours after former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced her faction would support him. Banerjee said Friday her Trinamool Congress faction would back the Congress candidate in the 6 October bypoll after her own nominee withdrew. The Election Commission had barred both rival TMC factions from using the party name and symbol. Congress spokesperson Mita Chakraborty told ANI the arrest was intimidation. Another Congress leader called it a dirty game by the BJP. Pradhan had been named in at least 12 cases since leading a Nandigram movement in 2007. The government has not yet commented on the arrest.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Hindustan Times and NDTV lead with the arrest itself, framing it as a simple sequence: Banerjee's support, then the arrest. National Herald provides extensive detail on Banerjee's political rationale and her criticism of the Election Commission. Times Now also foregrounds the arrest but adds the old murder case claim. The arrest's proximity to Banerjee's announcement is the common thread. Congress claims political vendetta, the government has not yet commented. The bypoll on 6 October will test whether this shifts turnout.

## Coverage

- timesnownews.com (neutral report) <https://www.timesnownews.com/india/congress-nandigram-candidate-milan-pradhan-arrested-hours-after-mamatas-backing-article-156182550>
  Leads with arrest linked to old murder case, framing it as dramatic turn after Banerjee's backing
- nationalheraldindia.com (neutral report) <https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/politics/mamata-banerjee-backs-congress-in-nandigram-vows-to-fight-alleged-election-commission-injustice>
  Focuses on Banerjee's alliance rationale and ECI criticism, minimal on arrest
- ndtv.com (neutral report) <https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/congress-candidate-for-nandigram-bypoll-arrested-hours-after-mamata-banerjee-announces-support-12065138#publisher=newsstand>
  Leads with the arrest as simple sequence after Banerjee's support, no further detail
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/congress-nandigram-candidate-milan-pradhan-arrested-hours-after-mamata-banerjee-tmc-support-101789737246295.html>
  Leads with Congress claims of intimidation, highlights political vendetta framing

Tags: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Election Commission of India, Mamata Banerjee, Milan Pradhan, Nandigram, Trinamool Congress
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