Nandigram bypoll: Milan Pradhan resumes Congress campaign after interim bail

Congress candidate Milan Pradhan on Thursday campaigned for the by-election to the Nandigram assembly seat in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district, a day after he was released from jail on interim bail.

Accompanied by party workers, Pradhan began his campaign from the local Congress office and walked towards Tenor via the Nandigram bus stand, interacting with residents and shopkeepers along the way.

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday granted him interim bail till October 20, allowing him to campaign for the by-election. He held a car roadshow shortly after his release on Wednesday.

Speaking to voters, Pradhan promised to raise local issues in the assembly if elected.

"The people of Nandigram are deprived. Even today, people here drink pond water due to the lack of piped water supply. Nandigram lacks a general college, a technical college, a nursing college and an ITI college. For 20 years, political change has centred around Nandigram, yet the region remains neglected," he said.

Pradhan also questioned the closure of the Jellingham project, and the absence of an agri-hub or tourism centre in the area, where, he claimed, around 90 per cent of the population depends on agriculture.

Pradhan dismissed the multi-cornered nature of the contest, claiming that the main fight was between the Congress and the BJP.

He also alleged that his arrest in a two-decade-old case was politically motivated, questioning why other accused in the same case, including former TMC leaders who now support the BJP, were not arrested.

"While I was arrested, others named in the same 20-year-old case -- former TMC leaders who are now supporting the BJP -- are roaming freely. Let the public judge this," he said.

BJP candidate Hansirani Rath also hit the campaign trail, travelling as a pillion rider on a motorcycle and accompanied by a convoy of party supporters.

The Nandigram bypoll was necessitated after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari vacated the seat to retain Bhabanipur, which he had also won in the assembly elections held earlier this year.

Former CM Mamata Banerjee has extended support to the Congress after her party's candidate withdrew from the contest following a meeting with Adhikari.

The campaign will conclude on October 4, while polling will be held on October 6 and counting of votes will take place on October 9.