Milan Pradhan. File photo: SA
The Congress on Saturday (September 19, 2026) criticised the ruling BJP over the timing of the arrest of its candidate Milan Pradhan ahead of the Nandigram byelection in West Bengal, after former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee extended her support to the party, saying the people will respond to such tactics at the right time.
Pawan Khera, head of the Congress’s media department, told PTI that it was a matter of concern that the West Bengal Police had arrested the party’s nominee when the cases against him were old.
“Why did the West Bengal Police arrest the Congress candidate now?” Mr. Khera asked. “When they suddenly came to know that former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had extended support to the Congress in the Nandigram bypoll, our candidate was arrested.”
Mr. Khera added that people are waiting for the right time to respond to such tactics.
According to the police, Mr. Pradhan was arrested in connection with at least four cases related to rioting, murder and criminal intimidation during the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram. The police have said the arrest was linked to a pending warrant.
Mr. Khera also criticised the Centre for imposing a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on specified Unified Payments Interface (UPI) merchant transactions above ₹2,000, alleging that the move was taken under pressure from the U.S. The new MDR framework is scheduled to take effect from Thursday (October 15, 2026), with specific sectors such as fuel subject to a flat fee.
“If America has to decide everything, then tell us that next time we should vote for President Donald Trump,” Mr. Khera said.
On the posters carrying the words Jhooth Ki Goonj put up against Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, and his Chhatron Ki Goonj programme scheduled for the evening in Indore, Mr. Khera said the BJP had been running a propaganda campaign against the Congress for the past 12 years.
“Now the situation is such that the more they speak against us, the more seats we will get in elections,” he said.
Published – September 19, 2026 04:56 pm IST
