Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was arrested in West Bengal on Friday in connection with an old alleged murder case, hours after former chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced that her faction would support his candidature in the October 6 Nandigram Assembly bypoll.
The arrest came shortly after Banerjee announced at a press conference at her Kalighat residence that her faction would back Pradhan in Nandigram. Banerjee subsequently announced that her faction would support Congress in Nandigram and in the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat in Assam.
Within just a few hours, he was arrested,” Chakraborty said. We are doing this for the greater interest of the nation,” Banerjee said. Her announcement followed the withdrawal of Sanchita Pradhan Dey, who had been fielded by the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). “We are extending our support to Congress in Nandigram and Assam.
“Today, Mamata Banerjee, the former Chief Minister, extended her support to Milan Pradhan.
The developments followed the Election Commission of India’s decision to bar the rival TMC factions from using the party’s name and traditional ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol for the upcoming bypolls. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction was allotted the name ‘Mamata All India Trinamool Congress’ and the ‘Football Player’ symbol, while the rival faction was allotted the name ‘Democratic Trinamool Congress’ and the ‘Envelope’ symbol. Both factions were recognised as political parties in West Bengal, Meghalaya and Tripura. The Rejinagar seat became vacant after Aam Janata Unnayan Party founder Humayun Kabir resigned from the constituency after winning both Rejinagar and Nowda. The Mamata faction has fielded Rabiul Alam Chowdhury there, while Congress has nominated Mohammed Abdullahil Kafi and the CPI(M) has fielded Advocate Sayeed, Asad Ali.
“If you resort to intimidation, refusing to give space to the opposition, do you want autocracy or democracy in this country? If you think you can stop the Congress or the opposition through such threats, then you are likely under a complete misconception,” she added.
