Congress Vows to Keep Nandigram Candidate Despite Arrest

Speaking from Alappuzha, Venugopal condemned the detention as a manifestation of authoritarian politics, accusing the BJP of silencing opposition voices through fabricated legal challenges. Pradhan was taken into custody regarding a cold case shortly after receiving an unexpected endorsement from Mamata Banerjee’s TMC faction. Despite the legal hurdle, the Congress leadership remains defiant, declaring that the campaign will intensify into a nationwide protest movement.

The Nandigram seat became a flashpoint following Suvendu Adhikari’s decision to vacate it in favor of Bhabanipur after the 2026 Assembly elections. With the by-poll scheduled for October 6 and results expected October 9, the district now hosts a high-stakes battle between Pradhan, BJP nominee Hasirani Rath, and CPI candidate Shanti Gopal Giri. The Congress has accused the Election Commission of silence, framing their continued participation as a broader struggle against what Venugopal characterized as the erosion of democratic standards in the country.