In a significant development ahead of the Nandigram bypoll, Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was taken into police custody. The arrest occurred only hours after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee publicly declared her support for his candidacy, a move that had already drawn attention to the local electoral contest.

While the arrest has been confirmed, the specific charges leading to the police action remain a point of limited public detail in initial reports. The timing of the arrest, occurring immediately following the Chief Minister's endorsement, has led to speculation regarding the political motivations behind the police intervention. Supporters of the Congress candidate suggest the arrest is an attempt to disrupt his campaign, while local authorities have yet to provide a comprehensive statement regarding the legal basis for the detention.

The Nandigram constituency remains a highly sensitive political area, and this incident is expected to further complicate the dynamics of the bypoll. As of now, the Congress party has not issued a formal statement detailing their next steps or the legal status of Pradhan's candidacy following his arrest. The situation continues to evolve as local political factions react to the sudden removal of a key candidate from the campaign trail.