Congress' Nandigram candidate arrested after Mamata's support amid TMC symbol row; Bengal bypoll gets chaotic

Hours after Banerjee announced her support for Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, Pradhan was arrested in connection with an old alleged murder case dating back to the 2007 Nandigram anti-land acquisition protests, according to reports.

ECI freezes TMC name, symbol

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday issued an interim order barring both rival factions of the Trinamool Congress from using the party's name, All India Trinamool Congress, and its reserved "flowers and grass" symbol for the upcoming bypolls.

The dispute involves rival factions claiming the party's identity and organisational control. The commission said the interim arrangement was aimed at keeping both groups on an "even keel" while the larger dispute is considered further.

The ECI had directed both factions to submit three preferred names and three free symbols by 11 am on September 18.

The arrangement applies to the October 6 bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar, where the two factions will contest under separate names and symbols until the commission takes a final decision on the party's identity.

Mamata faction gets 'football player' symbol

The poll panel subsequently allotted the name 'Mamata All India Trinamool Congress' and the 'Football Player' symbol to Mamata Banerjee's faction.

The rival faction was allotted the name 'Democratic Trinamool Congress' and the 'Envelope' symbol.

The ECI said the arrangement was interim and would remain in force until a final decision is taken on the dispute.

Mamata attacks BJP, ECI

Addressing a press conference at her Kalighat residence, Banerjee stepped up her attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of weakening democratic institutions and alleging that opposition parties were being targeted in collusion with the ECI.

"What is happening in the country is deeply unfortunate. In our view, it is unconstitutional, illegal, undemocratic and completely biased. It appears to be an act of political vendetta intended to satisfy a political party's ego," Mamata said.

"They had indicated earlier that they would not allow us to retain either our party name or our symbol. This shows that they know their own limitations. The country is going through a serious crisis. The economy is suffering, and issues concerning women, education, students, youth, democracy, unity, and the country's integrity are all at stake," she added.

Mamata Banerjee slamming BJP over symbol row. Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

Mamata backs Congress in Nandigram

Banerjee's decision to support Congress came after her faction's Nandigram candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey met West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at the state secretariat, Nabanna, and withdrew her nomination.

Asked whether Sanchita's withdrawal had prompted her decision to back Congress, Banerjee said she had planned to support the party.

"We can support a natural ally but not the nasty, dirty, tricky and high-loaded virus," she remarked.

The development marked a significant shift in the electoral contest, as Banerjee's faction had initially fielded its own candidate in Nandigram.

For the Rejinagar bypoll, however, Banerjee said she would take a decision on whether to support Congress at a later stage.

Her faction has also withdrawn its nomination from the Nagaon bypoll in Assam.

Mamata open to Congress tie-up for 2029

Asked whether an alliance with Congress could be the way forward for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, Banerjee told IBNS, "Yes of course, why not? This is the beginning. We want to see the end of the BJP era."

The remarks come amid renewed speculation over opposition coordination ahead of the next general election.

Mamata Banerjee interacting with journalists at her Kalighat residence. Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

Banerjee met DMK MP Kanimozhi in Kolkata triggering speculations of a third front sans Congress against the BJP nationally.

Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi backed Banerjee while accusing the BJP of allegedly targeting opposition parties and their electoral identities.

In a post on X, Gandhi alleged that the BJP and the ECI were following a pattern of splitting opposition parties and subsequently taking control of their election symbols.

"First Shiv Sena, then NCP, and now TMC," Gandhi said, describing the developments as "party theft".

Gandhi also alleged that the developments reflected a broader pattern of what he termed "vote theft", "government theft" and now "party theft".

Congress candidate arrested after Mamata's support

Shortly after Banerjee announced her support for Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, the latter was arrested by the West Bengal Police in connection with an old case, according to reports.

The case relates to an alleged murder during the 2007 Nandigram anti-land acquisition protests. The exact details of the case were not immediately available in some reports.

Congress alleged that the arrest was an attempt to intimidate the Opposition and accused the BJP of misusing the state police.

Congress leader KC Venugopal posted on X: "Democracy is on ventilator in BJP’s West Bengal. This is BJP’s latest effort to ensure 'Opposition-Mukt Bharat', successfully converting our great Constitutional democracy into a Banana Republic."

"Using a dormant 19-year-old case from 2007 to arrest our candidate - minutes after..." Venugopal wrote, alleging that the arrest was politically motivated.

Congress further alleged that such actions were intended to intimidate its candidates and weaken the Opposition.

The Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls are scheduled for October 6, with counting set for October 9.

Responding to Pradhan's arrest, Mamata accused BJP of vendetta politics questioning the "timing" of the arrest. 

"Minutes after we extended our support to the Congress candidate for the bypoll  in Nandigram, the Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was arrested. The timing raises serious questions and is the usual BJP formula: dig out an old case. But why now?

"Just after we announced support to the Congress! The BJP’s politics of vendetta and atrocities show a clear pattern. With manipulation, with vote loot, with intimidation the Election Agency-BJP partnership is killing democracy every day," she posted on X.

(Photos by Avishek Mitra/IBNS)