Full Breakdown
Supreme Court Reviews Legal Challenges to West Bengal’s Nandigram Bypoll
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 30 2026 the Supreme Court agreed to hear West Bengal’s petition challenging the Calcutta High Court’s grant of interim bail to Congress candidate Milan Pradhan for the Nandigram Assembly by-poll. Chief Justice Surya Kant set the hearing for October 5 2026 and indicated the plea would likely be dismissed. The bail, covering six criminal cases from the 2007 Nandigram agitation, allows Pradhan to campaign for the election on October 6 2026. Earlier, the Calcutta High Court on September 25 2026 dismissed a Congress petition over a discrepancy in BJP candidate Hasirani Rath’s election affidavit, ruling the issue could be raised only through an election petition after voting.
Background & Context
The Nandigram seat became vacant after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari retained the Bhabanipur constituency, leaving the by-poll open to Congress, BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). The contest occurs amid broader legal disputes in the state, including challenges to TMC-led party accounts and the appointment process for Election Commissioners.
Timeline
- Sept 25 2026 – High Court hears Congress petition on Rath’s affidavit.
- Sept 29 2026 – Supreme Court receives curative petition on Election Commissioners’ appointment law.
- Sept 30 2026 – Supreme Court agrees to hear bail challenge; hearing set for Oct 5.
- Oct 1 2026 – Chief Justice Kant declines urgent oral plea for earlier hearing.
- Oct 4 2026 – Campaigning ends.
- Oct 5 2026 – Scheduled Supreme Court hearing on Pradhan’s bail.
- Oct 6 2026 – Nandigram by-poll voting.
- Oct 9 2026 – Counting of votes.
- Oct 20 2026 – Interim bail for Pradhan expires per High Court order.
Data & Statistics
- Pradhan faces six criminal cases from the 2007 anti-land-acquisition movement, including murder and Arms Act charges.
- The High Court required a Rs 20,000 bail bond for each case.
- Campaigning is limited to Oct 4, with counting on Oct 9.
Official Statements & Responses
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that listing the bail challenge on Oct 5 would make the petition “infructuous” and stressed the need to keep the electoral timetable. Justice Krishna Rao, presiding over the affidavit dispute, cited Section 100(1)(d)(i) of the Representation of the People Act 1951, noting that an improperly accepted nomination can be declared void.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No source disputes the hearing dates or the High Court’s dismissal of the affidavit petition. The Supreme Court’s precise legal reasoning on the bail challenge remains unreported, leaving uncertainty about the impact of Pradhan’s pending cases on his eligibility.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Are there several cases against him?” — Chief Justice Kant
- “He is granted interim bail for elections,” — Solicitor General Tushar Mehta
- “As per Sub-Section 1(d)(i) of Section 100 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, if any nomination is improperly accepted, the election can be declared to be void,” — Justice Rao
What’s Next
The Supreme Court will hear the bail challenge on Oct 5 2026. The Nandigram by-poll proceeds on Oct 6, with results expected after counting on Oct 9. Any further legal objections to nominations must be filed as election petitions after the poll, as indicated by the Calcutta High Court’s ruling.