The Nandigram by-election in West Bengal witnessed a dramatic two-hour political upheaval just 18 days before polling. On Friday, Sanchita Pradhan Das, the Trinamool Congress candidate from the Mamata faction, withdrew her nomination after holding a meeting with Chief Minister Shoubhendu Adhikari, who is currently the sitting MLA from Nandigram.
Within hours of Sanchita's withdrawal, it emerged that Mamata Banerjee had publicly announced her support for Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, who happens to be Sanchita's relative. The development stunned political observers and signaled a major shift in the contest dynamics for the constituency.
However, the twist came barely two hours later. Bengal police arrested Milan Pradhan in connection with a long-pending criminal case, casting serious doubt on his eligibility to contest and throwing the by-election into further disarray.
The Nandigram seat became vacant after Shoubhendu Adhikari resigned following his appointment as Chief Minister. The second seat involved in these simultaneous by-polls is Regalinagar, which fell vacant after MLA Humayun Kabir tendered his resignation. Polling for both constituencies is scheduled for October 6.
Political analysts describe the series of events as one of the most unpredictable developments in recent West Bengal electoral history. The arrest of a contender who was freshly extended public support by the state's most powerful political figure raises questions about timing, coordination, and the broader intentions behind each move. Opposition leaders have already questioned whether the arrest was politically motivated to disrupt the Congress tally in a strategically important seat.
