Kolkata, Sept. 19 -- A court in East Midnapore's Haldia sent Milan Pradhan, the candidate fielded by the Congress in Nandigram for the upcoming by-elections, to judicial custody till October 3.

"Pradhan was produced in a court in Haldia. His bail plea was rejected. The court sent him to judicial custody till October 3," said a senior police officer.

To be sure, the arrest and the judicial custody will not disqualify Pradhan from contesting the poll but with the by-elections in the Nandigram assembly seat scheduled on October 6, Pradhan will not be able to campaign for the polls.

"The voters of Nandigram may not be able to see Pradhan during the campaign period. They may not see posters and banners. But the people of Nandigram have seen...