Congress Nandigram Candidate Alleges Threats to Poll Agents, Says No ECI Response

Congress candidate Milan Pradhan on Tuesday alleged that his polling agents and supporters were being threatened and taken away during voting for the Nandigram Assembly by-election in West Bengal, and claimed that the Election Commission of India (ECI) had not responded to his complaint.

Pradhan alleged that incidents of “hooliganism” had been taking place since the previous night, with his agents allegedly being picked up and threatened and election-related papers forcibly taken away.

“This is a by-election. Every citizen has to vote. There is freedom,” Pradhan said, alleging that the reported incidents were contrary to the principles of a free electoral process.

He said the Congress had lodged a complaint with the ECI but had not received a response.

Pradhan returned to the campaign trail after securing interim bail from the Calcutta High Court in connection with cases dating back to the 2007 Nandigram agitation.

The Nandigram bypoll was necessitated after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who had won both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in the 2026 Assembly elections, chose to retain Bhabanipur and vacated the Nandigram seat.

The BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath, mother of slain Adhikari aide Chandranath Rath, as its candidate. Chandranath Rath was killed in Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district on May 6.

Meanwhile, the ECI on Monday ordered the immediate replacement of Ajay Kumar Mishra, the inspector-in-charge of Nandigram Police Station in East Midnapore district. He was replaced by Debasish Sarkar, who was serving as IC of the district traffic control room.

The Commission directed that the transfer be implemented immediately and that a compliance report be submitted by Monday evening. It did not disclose the reason for the change, which came a day before polling.

Counting of votes for the Nandigram by-election is scheduled for October 9.