The West Bengal Congress on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, moved the Calcutta High Court seeking bail for Milan Pradhan, the party's candidate for the Nandigram Assembly bypoll scheduled for 6 October. The petition, filed before a single-judge bench, has turned Pradhan's arrest into a flashpoint in an already politically charged contest.

The Bail Petition

Pradhan's counsel filed the bail application before the single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, arguing that the matter warranted urgent hearing given that his client is an active contestant in the forthcoming bypoll. The court admitted the petition, and the matter is expected to be taken up this week.

Pradhan is currently in judicial custody in connection with two separate cases. In a 2007 murder case, he has been remanded in judicial custody until 3 October. In a second case, a district court sent him to jail until 5 October. He was directed to be produced physically on 23 September.

The Political Context

Pradhan was arrested on the evening of 18 September — within hours of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announcing that her faction of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) would back the Congress candidate in Nandigram. That announcement itself came shortly after Banerjee's faction's own candidate, Sanchita Dey Pradhan, dramatically withdrew her nomination from the constituency.

The move was seen as a fresh step toward Opposition unity in West Bengal following a significant setback for Banerjee's faction in the state assembly polls earlier this year. The timing of Pradhan's arrest has since become a central issue in the Nandigram contest.

Family Raises Questions

Milan Pradhan's wife, Arpita Pradhan, posted an emotional video on social media questioning the timing of the arrest. 'My husband was arrested immediately after the Congress announced his name as the party candidate. He used to go to vote regularly and used to stay in the area during the festival times. He was not arrested for so long. Now, why was he arrested after the Congress named him as the bypoll candidate?' she asked.

Government's Stand

The West Bengal state government has maintained that Pradhan's arrest followed standing instructions to execute all long-pending non-bailable arrest warrants before the bypolls — a routine administrative exercise, according to its position. Critics, however, argue the timing raises questions about the impartiality of the process.

What Happens Next

The Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly bypolls are scheduled for 6 October, with results to be declared on 9 October. With Pradhan's judicial custody in one case extending to 5 October, the outcome of the bail hearing this week will directly determine whether he can campaign — or even contest — the election. All eyes are now on the Calcutta High Court's decision.