New Delhi, Sept. 18 -- The by-election battle for Nandigram, scheduled for October 6, has turned into a full-blown political storm after Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was arrested in connection with an old murder case just hours after Mamata Banerjee's TMC faction announced support for him. Congress leaders have united in condemning the arrest, vowing to emerge victorious in the by-polls.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi claimed that the arrest was "no coincidence," but rather politically motivated. He accused the BJP of "clinging" to power through "vote theft and stealing government and parties", stating that its aim is to "end the electoral fight".

"The arrest of Congress candidate Milan Pradhan fo...