NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday claimed that Milan Pradhan, its candidate for the October 6 Nandigram assembly bypoll, has been arrested in connection with the 2007 anti-land acquisition protest.The Congress’ allegation came after the TMC’s Mamata Banerjee faction extended its support to the grand old party for the seat vacated by West Bengal chief minister and senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.The arrest also came just a day before the deadline for the withdrawal of nominations.
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Also on Friday, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, the the Mamata faction’s Nandigram candidate, pulled out of the race following a meeting with Adhikari, delivering a severe blow to the former chief minister. Mamata Banerjee subsequently announced her support for the Congress in Nandigram.Adhikari vacated Nandigram to retain Bhowanipore—a traditional Mamata Banerjee stronghold—where he defeated her in the West Bengal assembly elections held in April. The elections marked the end of TMC’s 15-year rule in West Bengal and paved the way for the BJP to form its first-ever government in the state.