Stories
Mamata Backs Congress in Nandigram Bypoll, Signals Bengal Opposition Reset
- •Mamata Banerjee's faction withdrew its candidate and endorsed Congress nominee Milan Pradhan for the Nandigram bypoll, calling Congress a "sister party" and "natural ally."
- •Banerjee stated the decision was in the country's larger interest and aimed at strengthening the INDIA bloc, sending a message about future opposition coordination from Bengal.
- •The move comes as the Trinamool Congress faces internal disputes, with the Election Commission freezing its traditional name and symbol, allotting separate ones to rival factions.
- •Congress veteran Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury downplayed immediate rapprochement, while West Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar welcomed support from anti-BJP forces.
- •Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was arrested on pending warrants from the 2007 Nandigram agitation, leading to allegations of political vendetta, though his candidacy remains valid.
Key Questions Answered
Mamata Banerjee extended support to Congress nominee Milan Pradhan after her faction's candidate, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, withdrew from the contest on September 18 and met with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Banerjee described the decision as being in the country's larger interest to strengthen the INDIA bloc and signal a reset in opposition coordination.
The Election Commission froze the All India Trinamool Congress name and its 'Jora Ghash Phul' symbol amid an internal party dispute, allotting separate names and symbols to rival factions for the upcoming bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar.
Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was arrested in connection with pending cases related to the 2007 Nandigram land-acquisition agitation, based on four pending non-bailable warrants. A court subsequently remanded him to judicial custody until October 3.
